One of hip-hop/rap mogul Marion 'suge'' Knight’s former bodyguards and an associate of the bodyguard were convicted of federal drug charges in connection to a large Southern California PCP distribution ring.

George Williams and Rodrick Cardale Reed, both of Compton, were convicted Thursday of manufacturing and distributing PCP and conspiracy to distribute the drug. They face maximum sentences of life in prison and are scheduled to be sentenced Nov. 14.

Williams, who use to work for Marion ‘Suge’ Knight and Reed were arrested after federal agents learned of their involvement in the drug operation by wiretapping their phones.

Investigators found 175 kilograms of PCP, 50 weapons and more than $100,000 cash during raids two years ago. Of the 26 people who have been charged in the case, 23 have been convicted or pleaded guilty to crimes, authorities said.

The 18-month investigation uncovered two major PCP labs in Adelanto and Palmdale, along with a cargo van that drug agents said was one of the largest rolling PCP labs ever found.

"This stuff was being used to flood the market in South Central L.A., mostly in Compton," said Los Angeles County Sheriff's Detective Ty Labbe.

Authorities said Reed, 36, supervised the manufacturing of the drug and determined the street price, while Williams was a "top-level" confidant of Reed's.

The two men, Williams and Reed, also are being investigated as "persons of interest" in the shooting death of Alton McDonald, Marion ‘Suge’ Knight's best friend and and also a bodyguard, who was killed in Compton in April 2002, authorities said.

Reed "absolutely denies involvement in any kind of violent situation," said Joseph Vodnoy, Reed's attorney. "There was nothing on the wiretaps to indicate he was complicit to a violent act."

Alton McDonald was a former production manager for Death Row Records and was shot to death as he filled up his car at a gas station in 2002.

In 1996, Alton McDonald was with Death Row CEO Marion 'suge'' Knight and west coast hip-hop and rap icon Tupac Shakur when the rapper was murdered in Las Vegas, according to court records cited by the Los Angeles Times.

Shortly before the murder of Tupac, ‘Suge’ Knight, Alton McDonald and Tupac reportedly had been involved in a brawl, which was captured on MGM hotel surveillance cameras. Alton McDonald, was 37 when he was murdered.

*Contributing News Source CBS News