Ravenel pleads guilty to federal cocaine chargeBy Schuyler Kropf (Contact)
Thursday, September 6, 2007
COLUMBIA — Former state treasurer Thomas Ravenel pleaded guilty this morning to a federal charge of possessing with intent to distribute cocaine. Ravenel said he would buy cocaine occasionally and then might not do it for a month or a couple weeks. It was all about sharing it with people he was partying with and making contacts. There was no evidence Ravenel sold the drug, federal officials said. Ravenel also said he is not being treated for drug abuse, but for some problems that stemmed from his childhood that formulated what he called “reckless behavior.” Ravenel, a multimillionaire Charleston developer, resigned as treasurer in July after less than eight months on the job after the cocaine allegations surfaced. The state Legislature elected former Summerville Rep. Converse Chellis on Aug. 3 to replace Ravenel. |
Article tools
Sponsored Links |
|
Notice about comments: Charleston.net is pleased to offer readers the ability to comment on stories. We expect our readers to engage in lively, yet civil discourse. Charleston.net does not edit user submitted statements and we cannot promise that readers will not occasionally find offensive or inaccurate comments posted in the comments area. Responsibility for the statements posted lies with the person submitting the comment, not charleston.net. If you find a comment that is objectionable, please click "suggest removal" and we will review it for possible removal. Please be reminded, however, that in accordance with our Terms of Use and federal law, we are under no obligation to remove any third party comments posted on our Web site. Full terms and conditions can be read here. |
Comments
This article has 4 comment(s)
|
Posted by billyjoejimbob on September 6, 2007 at 12:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Having good manners is a crime...Do coke on your own, not that big a deal. Do coke with your friends and it turns into a federal case. moral of the story, don't share with your friends.
Posted by stephaniem on September 6, 2007 at 4:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
its the truth though
a lot of drugs and alcohol are social things
look at people who quit smoking, they light up around smokers
Posted by behumble on September 6, 2007 at 6:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Do coke, be responsible for the states money, no big deal. Say you share it with friends and get off the hook. Sell the treasurer coke, be responsible for yourself, big problem. Why isn't Ravenel being charged with the original amount of cocaine which will carry a stiffer penalty, but we are trying to throw the book at some small time drug dealer who did not force the state treasurer or his friends to buy nor use cocaine. Isn't it convenient that Ravenel is now being charged with a smaller amount to get less time or no time at all. Wow!!!!! His Good Ole Dad had so much to say about Maria Goodloe Johnson and how unethical he thought she was, but I dont hear him saying squat about his coke head son to whom we've entrusted the states funds.
Posted by hawneena on September 6, 2007 at 6:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Daddy said from the get go that his son would not do jail time. He had a very good reason to be confident of that fact.
Why is it that no matter what a person's social status they always blame their childhood for their present problems?