Ravenel pleads not guilty
Today Thomas Ravenel pleaded not guilty to cocain charges via his attorneys while in the Sierra Tucson treatment facility in Arizona. The judge mandated that Ravenel must appear in court as soon as he’s released from treatment.
SC treasurer pleads not guilty to federal cocaine charge
By MEG KINNARD | Friday, July 06, 2007
COLUMBIA, S.C. - Suspended state Treasurer Thomas Ravenel pleaded not guilty to a federal cocaine charge Friday, and a judge ordered the multimillionaire to appear in court when he is released from a rehabilitation program.
Ravenel was indicted June 19 on a charge of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute less than 500 grams of cocaine. Authorities have said Ravenel, 44, is accused of sharing cocaine with his friends, not selling the drug.
His attorneys entered the plea. Ravenel was not in court because he entered a 30-day treatment program in Arizona on June 22, said attorney Bart Daniel.
U.S. Magistrate Joseph McCrorey ordered Ravenel to appear in court within 48 hours of being released from treatment.
McCrorey set $100,000 unsecured bonds for Ravenel and his co-defendant, Michael Miller, who has been in custody in Charleston on a state cocaine trafficking charge. Miller also pleaded not guilty Friday to the same federal charge faced by Ravenel.
Daniel also surrendered Ravenel’s passport.
Ravenel’s father, a former congressman and state senator, said he and other relatives planned to leave Saturday to visit his son at the Sierra Tucson treatment facility in Arizona.
“We hope to get an assessment of exactly what his medical condition is,” Arthur Ravenel said.
The father said after the indictment he spoke with his son about getting drug treatment.
“If you’re a parent, or a brother, or a sister, or a grandparent, you all can imagine how Thomas’ sister and I feel,” he said. “We’re just so appreciative of all the cards and calls and letters and expressions of support we’ve received from people all over the state.”
If convicted, Ravenel faces up to 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine.
Ravenel, who founded a commercial real estate company, was suspended from office by Gov. Mark Sanford after the indictment was announced.
Ravenel funded his own campaign for U.S. Senate in 2004 and finished a close third in the Republican primary.
Seen as a rising political star in South Carolina, his supporters were encouraging him to run for the U.S. Senate again in 2008 just weeks before he was indicted, an Associated Press review of e-mail records showed.
Ravenel also used public time and his state e-mail account as part of his work as Rudy Giuliani’s presidential campaign chairman in South Carolina, which state ethics officials believe is barred under state regulations.
Ravenel has since stepped down from Giuliani’s campaign. During the former New York mayor’s first campaign visit to South Carolina since the indictment last month, he said he was shocked when he heard the news.
“That’s something he’s going to have to answer for,” Giuliani said after an event in Myrtle Beach.
A service of the Associated Press(AP)
July 7th, 2007 at 12:07 pm
Witherspoon, the assistant U.S. attorney who represented the government Friday, said after the hearing that it is “very rare” for a defendant not to appear in person for an arraignment.
July 7th, 2007 at 12:16 pm
A discovery motion, filed by Ravenel attorneys Bart Daniel and Gedney Howe, is a standard action by defense lawyers to see the evidence the government has. It asks, among other things, for all information concerning any government witness and any “threats of punishment, promises of leniency, offers of immunity, amnesty, rewards, benefits, agreements not to prosecute” and any plea agreements.
The motion asks for the names and addresses of everyone interviewed by the government whom prosecutors do not plan to call as a witness in the case.
Also requested are any “unproductive leads” by the government in the case, including any covert attempts to engage members of the conspiracy in any conversation about the conspiracy, any attempts to persuade members of the conspiracy to cooperate with the government, and surveillance of suspected members of the conspiracy.
July 7th, 2007 at 12:58 pm
Ravenel’s attorney’s are requesting all information from the Feds: “names and addresses of everyone interviewed by the government whom prosecutors “DO NOT” plan to call as a witness in the case”.
Also requested are: ANY “UNPRODUCTIVE LEADS” by the government in the case
and “SURVEILLANCE” of “SUSPECTED” members of the conspiracy.
RAVENEL WANTS:
1.Names of non-witnesses,
2.Names of unproductive leads,
3.Names of suspects.
Why does Ravenel want all of this information?
Ravenel’s Conspirator’s, i.e., his “Cocaine Ring”, they MUST really be worried.
July 7th, 2007 at 1:48 pm
Only someone deep in the drug trade would file this type of discovery motion. If he were only sharing with friends, and not selling and “Distributing Cocaine”, then you would NOT put up this type of defense.
July 7th, 2007 at 10:55 pm
Suspended state Treasurer Thomas Ravenel and his co-defendant in a federal cocaine conspiracy indictment pleaded not guilty Friday, and both were granted unsecured bonds.
Ravenel, 44, is undergoing treatment at an Arizona drug rehabilitation center and was not at the 30-minute hearing.
Miller was brought into the federal courtroom wearing a blue and white striped jumpsuit from the Charleston County Detention Center, his hands in cuffs and linked by a chain to his waist. When McCrorey held up his right hand asking Miller to swear to a financial affidavit, Miller paused as he looked at his handcuffs and chains.
Poor defendant? In a jumpsuit in a courtroom. Rich defendant? In a swimsuit at a spa.
July 8th, 2007 at 12:17 am
No show / conspiracy / suspects / drug trade / jumpsuit -
hey man, we really appreciate all the comments, but why are you posting so much under different names? kind of weird isn’t it?
July 8th, 2007 at 4:21 am
Hey man, if you have an opinion, WRITE ONE!
July 8th, 2007 at 1:49 pm
I’m pretty sure I just did, so let me state it again:
It’s weird to post so much under different names.
July 8th, 2007 at 3:13 pm
The reality is that Ravenel distributes cocaine. Mr. “The Shot” obviously doesn’t like what is being said. And intstead of writing an opinion, he wants to call other people weird. The truth hurts sometimes. It looks like you’re unable to defend you’re dope head friends “T-Rav” and “Hashmere”.
July 8th, 2007 at 3:25 pm
HAHAHAHA! Friends?
Yeah, you are right. We LOVE Thomas Ravenel.
We aren’t trying to start a fight with you, we just think that having a conversation with yourself like this is strange. No offense man.
July 8th, 2007 at 10:37 pm
However, Mullen did say Charleston police use a three-prong strategy in fighting the city’s substantial drug traffic — street officers, a 13-officer narcotics squad, and, if the investigation gets complex, state and federal officers.
The main drug in Charleston is cocaine, and it is a severe problem, he said. Illegal drugs in Charleston contribute to many crimes against property and people, Mullen said.
July 9th, 2007 at 12:39 am
Cash and cocaine is the answer.
Way back in 2003, I worked for Thomas Ravenel. Yep… He’s a Republican. Nope…. I’m not. But, believe it or not, we did have some things in common politically. Thusly, I took a paid position working with him on his US Senate campaign. Of course, he came in third. But, for a rich boy from Charleston with no political background (except for being the son of politician Arthur Ravenel), most think he did pretty well.
Working with Thomas taught me just how disgusting the business of politics really is. Granted, I had some fun, I made reasonable money. And it was a learning experience (to say the very least). But the cost was that in the few months that I worked with him, I came home feeling disgusted every day. The song phrase “I don’t wanna do your dirty work no more” comes to mind. After awhile, I could no longer take it and left the position under supposedly good terms.
Here’s the truth of the matter though…. ANYONE who put Thomas Ravenel on a pedestal, should not have done so. Furthermore, if you’re the sort of person that believes that politicians, police officers, members of the clergy, etc., should be held in high regard and therefore accountable to fairly high standards, you’re fooling yourself. The real truth is the politicians are, in general, “icky”. Like Thomas, most are wealthy. Like Thomas, most aren’t morally responsible citizens. They get into office not to be the helpers of society like they would like for their voters to believe. It’s rare that someone who actually gives a damn is elected. In fact, it’s much more likely that they are there for their power trip.
Extremely wealthy people do things the rest of us can’t even imagine. For instance, Thomas jetted off to Paris several times a year to “hang-out” because he liked French wine, food, and the lifestyle there. He had (possibly still has) an apartment there that he used for his escapades. Back in Charleston, he dated little poodle haired girls and had them working for him (for the record, she was barely legal to have a drink and he was 40). He left a fiance at the alter and had his secretary call off the wedding. He had VERY expensive nude portraits (which were actually quite nice) in his even more expensive downtown Charleston house. On one occasion when we were waiting for Thomas to show up for a meeting we were surprised by a cell phone call from him in Hawaii… You see, he had (pardon the pun) “blown off” the meeting because he wanted to get some sun. Another time the cell phone call was from Hollywood where he had flown in the middle of the night to party with friends. I know these things from seeing and hearing them for myself. I was there.
Obviously, it was no news to me that Thomas would inhale, snort, drink, or anything else that a typical “Playboy” would do. There is no defense for the fact that he is a public official who was likely breaking the law- innocent until PROVEN guilty, right? However, anyone who would have expected different should examine their motivations for thinking otherwise. Just because someone is wealthy, attractive, well-spoken, educated, and has some good ideas, they are no different than any of the rest of us. Still human.
July 9th, 2007 at 2:24 pm
“I’m out there shouting the Sanford agenda from the rooftops,” Ravenel told reporters and editors of The Greenville News last October.
Sanford’s campaign manager said at the time Sanford “strongly” supported Ravenel.
July 9th, 2007 at 2:31 pm
“He performed all the functions of the treasurer’s office fine during the time that he’s been there,” Sanford said.
July 9th, 2007 at 6:48 pm
I had no idea at the time that I went to work for Thomas how the FEC laws actually read. But, now I do. Thomas had decided months before his actual declaration of candidacy that he was going to run. He had hired well known (in SC anyway) consultant Rod Shealy. Of course, he had also hired myself and two others to work on the campaign. While the check I received each week said Ravenel Development Corp. and my office was located inside Ravenel Development Corp., I never did any work for the development company. Instead I spent my time working SOLELY on fundraising and other campaign duties.
July 9th, 2007 at 7:14 pm
Republican Lieutenant Governor Andre Bauer, who ran on the statewide GOP ticket with Ravenel last year, told NewsChannel 15, “Thomas is a friend of mine, and you don’t leave friends in a difficult time.
July 9th, 2007 at 7:16 pm
Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer, a close friend of Ravenel’s, said he was shocked by the indictment.
“I’m hoping for the best,” Bauer said. “I’ve never seen anything like that type of activity from him, so I find it very surprising.”
July 9th, 2007 at 8:33 pm
Rod Shealy’s trio to endorse Rudy Giuliani for President
Thomas Ravenel, Andre Bauer, and Richard Eckstrom announced that both Bauer and Eckstrom will join Ravenel and endorse Rudy Giuliani. It comes as no surprise as the three statewide officials share very close ties through their political consultant Rod Shealy. Shealy is one of South Carolina’s top consultants known for his outside of the box strategies and grand announcements. He has enjoyed amazing successes recently, most notably his victory in the Lt. Governor’s race when Andre Bauer looked finished.
July 9th, 2007 at 9:13 pm
The legislative attempts to defend a $90,000 appropriation for a “security detail” for Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer last week not only were half-hearted, one was literally laughable. It’s not easy to defend the indefensible.
…Indeed, someone went to a great deal of trouble to try to ensure that the $90,000 item in the lieutenant governor’s budget was veto proof. This time, a budget item mandates that SLED provide the security and another puts the reimbursement funds in the lieutenant governor’s office budget. Further, the $90,000 for security was part of a $112,173 line item that included funds for office supplies that a number of lawmakers reportedly were reluctant to eliminate.
…Wouldn’t it be more appropriate to give that protection to constitutional officers who actually have major full-time responsibilities, instead of the one with the part-time job of presiding over the state Senate?
…Providing Mr. Bauer with a SLED driver seems, in fact, a bad joke in view of the problems he’s had behind the wheel since he’s been in office, including going more than 100 miles per hour in a 70 mph zone.
…We don’t find this $90,000 perk for the lieutenant governor even a little amusing. The veto override would better be described as appalling.
July 9th, 2007 at 9:30 pm
What would you ask a lieutenant governor who:
-When stopped speeding down Assembly Street, charged so aggressively at the cop that he felt threatened enough to draw his weapon?
When driving 101 mph on a wet highway, got on the police radio frequency to tell the patrolman pursuing him that “SC2″ was “passing through,” and when he was stopped anyway, asked, “Did you not hear me on the radio”?
-Lying to reporters about that incident, then saying you “forgot” about it when confronted with the evidence?
-Showed up to negotiate with the Department of Transportation a price for land he owned with a member of the transportation commission in tow?
July 10th, 2007 at 2:01 am
Lowcountry Observer said…
So T-RAV is out as Treasurer. Is anyone who knows the cat surprised? Ask anyone in the Holy City and you’ll find out that his proclivities are well known. The boy is a metrosexual who is known in Charleston, France and Central America to swing both ways. Rumor has it that his swinging lifestyle is fueled by cocaine, so his arrest for possession is no surprise. Those of us living along the coast are eagerly awaiting the details of T-RAV and his boys to come out. This will beat the Garden of Good and Evil for intrigue. Who else will be caught in the web? Ya gotta wonder.
July 10th, 2007 at 2:57 am
Blood on the floor at the Budget and Control Board
The debate about the status of the SC Budget and Control Board is heating up. Longtime employees are retiring or finding other jobs. Other employees, including good employees with solid records, are looking for a way out. Each and every day, employees of the South Carolina Budget and Control Board are stressed out wondering what their futures are.
I realize some think that the Budget and Control Board should be eliminated. I agree with that premise to some degree. But, there is a situation developing in which good people are trying to find a way out of state government service.
Longtime employees are frustrated and confused. They wonder if their years of service mean anything. Those who can are jumping out of state government service. Governor Sanford seems to be oblivious to what is happening, though the rank and file members of the State Budget and Control Board seem to blame the Governor for the situation.
One employee of the State Budget and Control Board confided to me recently that it was his belief that the Governor wanted people to quit or retire so the Governor could appoint his own friends to the jobs that would hand out big state contracts.
I do not know if that is true, but I do know that perhaps the agency in the state government with the most power is being demoralized and demeaned, for whatever reason.
As I said before in this space, I would like to see the Budget and Control Board eliminated, and replaced with another administrative agency under the Governor. However, if any Governor is seeking to reform that board in a way that can only reward his friends that is wrong.
Currently, the State Budget and Control Board is governed by Governor Mark Sanford, Treasurer Thomas Ravenel, Comptroller General Richard Eckstrom, Representative Dan Cooper and Senator Hugh Leatherman. Political rumors are flying that Cooper is about to retire and that Leatherman has a tough re-election battle ahead in 2008. That leaves the former three, who seem to be in lock step when it comes to Budget and Control Board issues. As one politico put it to me recently, “Thomas Ravenel calls Mark Sanford to make sure which way he (Ravenel) should vote in Budget and Control Board meetings..”
Again, I have not problem with reform. But, if one set of good old boys and gals is replacing another at the perhaps the state’s most important agency for another, in the name of so called reform, than something is wrong. Sure, there are plenty of employees at the state Budget and Control Board who ought to be shown he door for not working and the like. But, to replace them with just more political hacks does a disservice to the people who actually work at the Budget and Control Board and to the people of this state. South Carolina deserves better. The people of South Carolina, and the employees of the Budget and Control Board who work hard everyday do not deserve such treatment
July 10th, 2007 at 3:02 am
DUDE!?!?!
What’s up with the conversation you are having with yourself?
July 10th, 2007 at 3:42 am
Thursday, November 02, 2006
Sanford/T-Rav/Eckstrom Tour Ends When Bus Runs Out of Gas !!!
The Campaign for Fiscal Conservatism came to a sudden halt this afternoon when the bus transporting them ran out of gas, and none of the candidates were willing to pay for filling it back up.
A large crowd gathered outside of Shaw Lumber in Florence, as the three candidates discussed why each of them couldn’t pay for the gas. The notoroiously frugal Sanford claimed that his staff took off with his jacket and wallet and were already en route to the next stop. Ravenel had concerns that by paying for the gas, he would be accused of “Buying the Election” by Grady Patterson troll Trav Robertson ( apparently, Patterson does little accusing since his infamous State interview). Meanwhile, Eckstrom simply said, “I’ve had enough trouble with vans this year, thank you.”
July 10th, 2007 at 8:02 pm
How about the other local politicians and well known dignitaries that played in the snow with T-Rav. I noticed that the P&C has very little about this story, jeez I wonder why. Who are they trying to protect. I hear this story hits close to home with them, those in the know, know what I’m talking about. The party in the battery, the hidden cameras, those who flipped and mentioned names. A good investigative reporter could have a field day with this story and probably sell a screenplay. City Paper and The State-keep on top of this story because you own it. The P&C doesn’t want to get dirty with this one.
July 12th, 2007 at 12:05 am
Everything is FINE! It’s fine, really, it’s fine. I’m not kidding…it’s fine. No, I’m not joking… everthing is fine. really….
Don’t pay attention to the campaign finance violations, or the suspended treasurer indicted for cocaine distribution or emails indicating ethics violations, or the State Budget and Control Board in disarray, or employee’s bolting out of the Treasury Agency, or The DOT, or The SBCB. Don’t pay attention to the suspended Treasurer that is in Rehab, everything is fine at the Treasury Dept. LISTEN TO ME! LISTEN! EVERYTHING IS FINE!
July 12th, 2007 at 12:48 am
There is seriously something wrong with you dude.
July 13th, 2007 at 2:26 am
“Jury selection has been scheduled for Sept. 5 in state Treasurer Thomas Ravenel’s trial on a federal drug charge, according to court records”.
“A date for Ravenel’s trial will be announced after the jury is selected, according to a scheduling notice filed Wednesday. Pretrial motions, which must be filed by July 26, will be heard Aug. 21″.
July 13th, 2007 at 7:55 pm
PRESS NOTICE
REGINALD I. LLOYD
UNITED STATES ATTORNEY
DISTRICT OF SOUTH CAROLINA
1441 Main Street, Suite 500 * Columbia, SC 29201 * (803) 929-3000*
June 19, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT PERSON: KEVIN F. MCDONALD
(803) 929-3000
SOUTH CAROLINA STATE TREASURER THOMAS RAVENEL
INDICTED ON FEDERAL DRUG CHARGE
Columbia, South Carolina —- United States Attorney REGINALD I. LLOYD stated today that South Carolina State Treasurer THOMAS RAVENEL, age 44, of Charleston, along with another man, MICHAEL L. MILLER, age 25, of Mt. Pleasant, were charged in one-count Indictment this afternoon with conspiracy to possess cocaine with intent to distribute.
The Indictment reads as follows:
THE GRAND JURY CHARGES:
That beginning at a time unknown to the grand jury, but beginning at least in or around late 2005, and continuing thereafter, up to and including the date of this Indictment, in the District of South Carolina, the defendants, THOMAS RAVENEL and MICHAEL L. MILLER, knowingly and intentionally did combine, conspire and agree together and have tacit understanding with each other and others, both known and unknown to the grand jury, to knowingly, intentionally and unlawfully possess with intent to distribute and to distribute a quantity of cocaine, a Schedule II controlled substance in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C);
All in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 846.
Mr. Lloyd stated the maximum penalty RAVENEL and MILLER could receive is a fine of $1,000,000.00 and/or imprisonment of 20 years.
Mr. Lloyd stated that the case was investigated by agents of the FBI and SLED, and that he has assigned the case to Assistant United States Attorney William Witherspoon of the Columbia office for prosecution.
Mr. Lloyd stated that all charges in this Indictment are merely accusations and that all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. The Indictment reads as follows:
I DON’T SEE ANY LANGUAGE IN THE DOCUMENT THAT SAYS….HE WAS “JUST SHARING WITH FRIENDS”……..
……………IT STATES: ” AND TO DISTIBUTE A QUANTITY OF COCAINE”
You can try to sugar coat an indictment if you want to, but “cocaine distribution” IS “Cocaine Distribution” IT IS WHAT IT IS!
July 14th, 2007 at 2:22 am
Perfect Timing………..
SECTION 1-1-120. Vacancies in executive department.
In case any vacancy shall occur in the office of Secretary of State, State Treasurer, Comptroller General, Attorney General or Adjutant General, such vacancy shall be filled by election by the General Assembly, a majority of the votes cast being necessary to a choice. If such vacancy occur during the recess of the General Assembly, the Governor shall fill the vacancy by appointment until an election by the General Assembly at the session next ensuing such vacancy.
July 14th, 2007 at 2:46 am
OK! That’s it. We will give you one more post to say what you have to say. After that…no more. This is getting quite annoying.
July 14th, 2007 at 7:25 pm
One can only wonder after reading today’s Beaufort Gazette blurb about Thomas Ravenal where the story will go next. Are Tommy’s local cronies and fellow coke pushers feeling a little nervous? His friends are rather well placed in our community(Beaufort) and have much to lose if ole Tommy can’t hold his mud and decides to trade them for his own freedom.
January 24th, 2008 at 1:55 pm
I know this man personally, was engaged to the family. When we met, I was treated with the upmost respect by Thomas.. Of course, I COMMANDED IT! FOR THOSE WHO DIDN’T, AND TOOK THE WRONG RIDE, WELL THAT SHOWS LACK OF RESPECT FOR YOURSELVES.
WITH THAT SAID, TAKE A STEP BACK AND LOOK AT THE JOURNEY WITH THOMAS. WERE YOU IN CONTROL OF YOUR EMOTIONS, ACTIONS, FEELINGS, SURROUNDINGS? NOT MANY CAN SAY THEY WERE!!EH? WE ALL ARE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE CHOICES WE MAKE IN LIFE. NO ONE ELSE. NOW THAT EVERYTHING IS OUT THERE AND NEXT WEEK COMING TO A HEAD, LET’S TAKE ACCOUNTABILITY FOR OUR OWN ACTIONS WHILE IN THE COMPANY OF THOMAS, AND BE DARING ENOUGH TO APPOLIGISE TO HIM FOR ALL OF THE SELF-CENTERED DUMPING ON HIM!!! APPOLOGISE TO HIM FOR NOT TRYING TO TALK ANY, ANY SENCE INTO HIM, AND TELL HIM JUST AS I DID,”NOTHING WOULD PLEASE ME MORE THAN TO STAY HERE WITH YOU, HOWEVER, I REALLY NEED TO GET HOME.” AND WITH THAT, RESPECT WAS BORN, AND STILL PREVAILS THIS DAY OF JAN. 24TH 2008! PONDER AT WILL!!