State Treasurer Indicted for Distributing Cocaine (SC-R Rudy's guy in SC)

[RamboLiberal]

Source: WLTX.com

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- South Carolina Treasurer Thomas Ravenel has been indicted by a federal grand jury for distribution of cocaine.

The indictments accuse Ravenel and another man of distributing less than 500 grams of cocaine starting in late 2005.

Ravenel was elected state treasurer in 2006. His father, Arthur Ravenel Junior, was a powerful politician from Charleston who served eight years in the U.S. House and is a former state representative and state senator.

Ravenel is the founder of Ravenel Development Corp., a commercial real estate development company. He's also the state chairman for former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani's presidential campaign.


Read more: http://www.wltx.com/news/story.aspx?storyid=50785

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Hah - he was going to run for US Senate - Lindsey Graham's seat in all probability.

SC GOPUSA: Tell Republican voters in South Carolina why they should vote for you instead of the other excellent candidates running for the GOP nomination for the U.S. Senate.

RAVENEL: We have an excellent field of competitors. They would all do a much better job then Mrs. Tenenbaum could do on her best day. Although, I think I would be the best because I am a successful businessman. Most of my competitors in this race are career politicians, attorneys, or both. In the U.S. Senate right now two-thirds of the Senators are attorneys. I think that is plenty of attorneys. I think we need to send someone to Washington with good business sense. Someone who knows how to get things done.

SC GOPUSA: What do you consider your strongest personal asset?

RAVENEL: My best asset is that I will not compromise my principles for political gain. I have a strong philosophical commitment to limited government.

I've not taken one penny of PAC money. I'm beholden to no one. I will always be frank and candid and tell it like it is. And I'll always work for the general interest of America and South Carolina, not for any narrow special interest.

http://gopusa.com/southcarolina/news/0405_ravenel_interview.shtml

[ChairmanAgnostic]

1. hahah hohohohoho hahaha ahhhhh.

SC- R - but of course.

[guitar man]

2. haha

He's also the state chairman for former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani's presidential campaign.

....and also Rudy's connection anytime he's "in the neighborhood" :evilgrin:

[RamboLiberal]

11. Thanks - good catch - from April 4th

http://media.townhall.com/Townhall/Reu/b/2007/95/[e-mail]
Republican presidential hopeful Rudy Giuliani smiles as he listens to South Carolina Treasurer Thomas Ravenel throw his support behind the former New York City mayor's campaign during a news conference Thursday, April 5, 2007, at the Statehouse in Columbia, S.C. Looking on far left is Barry Wynn.

Ravenel signing on with Rudy
Look for state Treasurer Thomas Ravenel to head Rudolph Giuliani's South Carolina presidential primary campaign.

The announcement should come Thursday morning when Ravenel joins the former New York City mayor for a three-stop tour beginning in Columbia.

"I can't say today, but stay tuned," said Spartanburg's Barry Wynn, a former state GOP chairman and key fundraiser for President Bush in 2000 and 2004.

Also, Wynn and retired Columbia insurance executive Gayle Averyt are expected to be named as Giuliani's state finance co-chairmen.

http://news.greenvilleonline.com/blogs/hoover/2007/04/ravenel_signing_on_with_rudy.html

Rudy and his people sure failed to vette this guy which seems to be an all too common with Rudy.

[guitar man]

13. bwahahaha

of course 'ol Rudy is smiling, Tom just turned him on to a snoot full of the good stuff... :evilgrin:

[TechBear_Seattle]

3. So, by party, how many elected politicians have been indicted or convicted in 2007 so far?

I count one Democrat to... Ravenel is what, the third Republican? Fourth?

Added: Changed subject to include "indicted."

[mikelgb]

4. will you end the drug war for your fallen soldier?

will you?

[yardwork]

5. "I've not taken a penny of PAC money....I'm a businessman..."

Selling crack cocaine - the new way to fund a campaign.

[Bandit]

23. If it only were Crack Cocaine

His sentence would be ten fold over what powder cocaine is. Although Crack Cocaine is just a garbage form of free-based Cocaine and no where near the quality of real cocaine it has a much stiffer sentence attached to it because it is used mostly by the inner city folks (black people) and Powder Cocaine is used by the upper crust white folk.

[aquart]

6. How on god's earth did this come to light?

[RamboLiberal]

9. More on the story

Ravenel bought less than 500 grams of cocaine from Michael L. Miller to share with other people, U.S. Attorney Reggie Lloyd said. Ravenel didn't sell any of the drugs, Lloyd said.

Ravenel will be allowed to turn himself in, authorities said. The treasurer's office referred all questions to Ravenel's lawyer Joel Collins, who did not return a message left at his office.

The investigation into Ravenel arose from a drug case last year in Charleston, Lloyd said. State Law Enforcement Division Chief Robert Stewart said his agents were aware of the allegations before Ravenel was elected in November, but didn't have enough information to pursue criminal charges until they turned the case over to the FBI in April.

Ravenel and Miller, who is in custody, each face on charge of distribution of cocaine, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

http://www.charlotte.com/205/story/166073.html

[MnFats]

15. 500 grams for him and his friends??!!?!?!

They must have noses like Hoovers!
That's a hell of a lot of 'personal use.'
Think Tony Montana snorting big mounds of coke just before he brings out his 'lee-tle fren;'

[geomon666]

7. Will they put him away for 50 years?

Like they do with people caught with less marijuana than this guy was carrying?

[Blue_Tires]

22. lol at that!

probation at the most...the lawyers will find some way to get this turned into 'misdemeanor possession'

[Dr.Phool]

8. "I will not compromise my principals for political gain".

Now financial gain is a differnt story.

[IChing]

10. Ravenel is Giuliani’s South Carolina state chairman!!!!!LOL

Ravenel is also the state chairman for former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani’s presidential campaign.

Ravenel started his political career in 2004, funding his own campaign for a U.S. Senate seat. He finished a close third in the Republican primary.

Ravenel was founder of the Ravenel Development Corp., a commercial real estate development company. His father, Arthur Ravenel Jr., was a powerful politician from Charleston who served eight years in the U.S. House and is a former state representative and state senator.

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2007/06/19/giuliani-south-carolina-chairman-indicted-on-cocaine-charges/

[RamboLiberal]

12. For your reading pleasure - here's the indictment

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/docs/ravenel-indictment/

[tabasco]

14. Cocaine is a dangerous drug.

If it was just pot I wouldn't give a damn.

[bluestateguy]

16. I favor drug decriminalization

We have far too many non-violent drug offenders in jail, and that is true whether the offenders are poor young men, or an elected state official like Ravenel--if he goes to jail that is.

On the other hand, if he was selling to children, then he should be put away.

[Mend]

17. Attention God: you are about to get a new "born-again Christian"...

another repuke was caught doing the devil's work but he is seeing the light as soon as the jail bars appear.

[SCantiGOP]

21. already was

supposedly. He ran as a right wing, christian, family values type of guy. He's about as doctrinaire right wing as you can get. He's facing 20 years now.

[struggle4progress]

18. Well, damn, where is King George gonna get his nose candy now?

[GainesT1958]

19. No, rich little jerk..

Inez Tennenbaum wouldn't take her hard-earned money (unlike YOURS) and stuff it all up her nose, or smoke it in a crack pipe!

What a fool...talk about someone getting his comeuppence. I really do hope this helps teach S.C.'s populace--well, at least 51% of the voting public there--just what you get when you entrust your state to a Repub. And the state's MONEY, of all things! God knows they're not going to be fiscal conservatives, or anything!:eyes:

Enjoy, Rudy...between that and your successor thinking you're worthless as a presidential candidate, not a really good day, huh?:eyes:

B-)

[WCGreen]

20. Limited government...

A battle cry for help...

The poor lad has wandered down that snowy path and will have to cough up some cold hard cash in order to avoid some time in the clink...

[MGKrebs]

24. Methinks he will discover a newfound appreciation for lawyers!

[Octafish]

25. An Officially Approved Drug of the BFEE

DEA Agents Agree: CIA means Cocaine Importation Agency