Atlanta ? Two men were sentenced to life in prison Monday in the assassination of a sheriff-elect who was gunned down on orders from the man he defeated at the polls.

Melvin Walker and David Ramsey were convicted in August on federal charges of conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire. Prosecutors said they were promised jobs and perks to kill incoming DeKalb County Sheriff Derwin Brown.

Brown was ambushed and shot at least a dozen times in front of his home in December 2000, just days before he was to have succeeded Sheriff Sidney Dorsey. Suspicion immediately fell on Dorsey, who was later convicted of plotting the murder and is serving a life sentence.

Prosecutors said that Walker, the suspected triggerman, was promised a promotion to deputy sheriff if he helped kill Brown. Ramsey, the alleged backup shooter, was promised a job as a detention officer.