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The latest development in the Thomas Ravenel saga suggests the indicted South Carolina Treasurer was in clear violation of state ethics rules. 
E-mails obtained by the Associated Press show that Ravenel, “used public time and his state e-mail account as part of his work as Giuliani’s presidential campaign chairman in South Carolina, which ethics experts say is apparently barred under state regulations.”
With Ravenel looking at up to 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine, an ethics charge is the least of his worries. But it certainly doesn’t help Giuliani.
The AP reported that the e-mails “offer a glimpse into the life of a multimillionaire, first-term state official whose time was spent in part fielding requests for favors, considering loftier political goals – and potentially violating state ethics rules.”
His acquaintances were asking for help getting them jobs. And Ravenel, who also spent some of his official state time tinkering with a letter of support for his chosen presidential candidate, Rudy Giuliani, was looking to spend about $50,000 for a new boat.
“I already have a 29 footer that I keep at Seabreeze marina,” Ravenel wrote in a May 30 e-mail to a boat dealer. “It’s a bit big for the creek surrounding my place, Brookland Plantation, on Edisto Island.”
…
Others beseeched Ravenel, sworn into office in January, to help them find jobs for themselves or others.
“As a third generation law enforcement representative, he will serve our state in an exemplary manner and carry on a legacy of excellence that is truly needed in our state’s governmental agencies,” said an e-mail signed by Harvey Senter about a fellow Citadel graduate seeking a job with the state Department of Natural Resources.
Ravenel and his spokesman also bantered via computer during work hours about an op-ed by Ravenel encouraging South Carolinians to support Giuliani, the former New York mayor.
“The two most central issues the next President will face will be how to protect us against terror and how to keep our economy growing,” wrote Ravenel, who has stepped down as Giuliani’s state chairman. “It will be a daunting task, but there is no question in my mind that Rudy Giuliani is the right man for the job.”
South Carolina government ethics rules prohibit any state worker from using time on the job, or state equipment, to work on political campaigns. [MEG KINNARD - AP]
Let’s see, Ravenel has been indicted on “Cocaine Distribution”, he wants a smaller boat to traverse the creeks around Edisto Island, and he is cozy with the (DNR) Department of Natural Resources.
You have “T-Rav”, Hashmere”, and “SC2″. That’s three-of-a-kind. Then, if you find another pair, you will have a full-house.
Governor Mark Sanford said “He performed all the functions of the treasurer’s office fine during the time that he’s been there,”
Why is Ravenel pulling favors over at SC DNR?
What I find interesting is that there hasn’t been any mention of the so-called “general cocaine investigation” or the investigation of the individuals surrounding “T-Rav” and “Hashmere”. What is the latest on the “big cocaine investigation in Charleston”.
What a farce! Let’s see how long he will hold the line of “not guilty”. You can bet your bottom dollar that the evidence is strong. Too strong to go to trial. I see a plea deal in his future.
The U.S. Attorney, FBI, and SLED need to turn up the heat on these guys. Ravenel and Miller obviously conspired together to enter a “not guilty” plea. Miller is a known “Drug Dealer” and Ravenel is “Distributing Cocaine”. Ravenel and “Hashmere” are making a mockery out of our judicial system.
January 03 07:07 PMWho is Howard Rich?Published in Cover Story
By Corey Hutchins
What is the definition of a Yankee?
It’s a quickie you do by yourself. Or so goes the old joke— but many South Carolina voters wouldn’t be laughing if they knew who the man paving the yellow brick road with gold was for the Republican candidates of the 2006 S.C. General Election.
But this isn’t Oz— it’s South Carolina.
And though the man behind the curtain was indeed a squirrelly bald man, he had a real name and a real profession outside of the money-green tinted glasses worn by this year’s Republican campaign consultants of Emerald City.
His name is Howard Rich and he is a Libertarian real estate investor from Manhattan who some believe is single-handedly hijacking the SCGOP and turning the Palmetto State into his own personal guinea pig lab.
Sitting high in his Manhattan apartment though, Howard Rich is not a household name in the state where friendliness flows and if there’s anyone Rich wants to keep his name clear from the mind of besides the average voter or local reporter in South Carolina it appears to be the State Ethics Commission.
According to state law, a single person or company is only allowed to donate a maximum of $3,500 to a political candidate during an election cycle. So how does a person donate up to $73,000 to just one candidate like Rich did for Gov. Mark Sanford alone?
One way, says S.C. political commentator and blogger Ross Shealy, is to set up a number of different “shell groups” in order to bypass the law.
“Rich makes the maximum legal contribution of $3,500 to a candidate under the name of Bradford Management. Then he makes another contribution to the same candidate as Spinksville LLC. And then he makes another as Ashborough Investors and another as 405 49 Associates— you get the idea,” he says.
“And there are more: Spooner LLC. Bayrich LLC, Dayrich LLC, 538-14 Realty LLC, West 14 & 18 LLC, 123 LaSalle Associates, just to name a few. Some of these shell companies list Howard Rich’s Big Apple apartment as their primary address. Others purport to be located at an alternate address but have a “principal” address at his New York residence.”
It was Rich’s use of the different shell groups, or his playing of “the shell game,” in order to bypass the state campaign contribution limit laws that prompted The State newspaper to publish a Dec. 8 editorial urging the State Ethics Commission to enforce the state’s campaign disclosure law after U.S. District Judge Mathew Perry dismissed a lawsuit filed by South Carolinians For Responsible Government (SCRG) against the SEC.
Why did they file a suit? Because the SEC simply asked SCRG to file a report detailing its spending for political ads that ran in the June primaries. After SCRG filed the suite, the SEC stonewalled and seemed to drop their inquiries into the entire matter.
SCRG is a group financed by Howard Rich— who often sets up and bankrolls groups with “down home state-sounding” names as a way to play puppeteer without having to get his own hands tangled in the strings. Another one in South Carolina reportedly financed by Rich is South Carolina Club For Growth. We’ll get into that one later.
PSSSST…follow the money.
Though SCRG has repeatedly refused to say whether or not they are financed by Howard Rich, the dots can be connected the old fashioned Bob Woodward/Carl Bernstein way. But deep-throated parking garage freaks need not apply; a simple “follow the money”— or in this case “follow the chummies”— will do.
In November, Sanford’s 2006 re-election campaign manager, Jason Miller, told The State that he had not seen Rich in years and could not say when he last spoke with the man. For two years in the late ‘90s Miller worked for a group called U.S. Term Limits. Howard Rich is the president of U.S. Term Limits and their goal is to cap the times a House member can run for re-election. While he was a member of the S.C. House, Gov. Mark Sanford also worked with U.S. Term Limits and, last year, during an Oct. 30 ETV gubernatorial debate, Sanford called Howard Rich a “good friend.”
The governor was such a good friend of Rich’s that he reportedly received around $50,000 in campaign contributions for re-election from Rich’s shell groups alone— over 10 times the legal limit.
Those of course are the only groups so far found to be related to the New York financer. (In 1997, S.C. Republican Bob Inglis disagreed with U.S. Term Limits and was told, “If you get in our way, we will mow you down,” according to CNN’s All Politics. Inglis did not necessarily disagree with term limits, he said, — only the number of terms.)
Meanwhile, while Time magazine was calling Sanford the worst governor in the country, a group called The Cato Institute listed him as one of their highest-scoring governors. Howard Rich is on The Cato Institute’s board of directors.
Reporter John Stossel once broadcast a story on ABC’s 20/20 called “Stupid in America” in which Sanford bashed the current running of the S.C. public school system on national television. Stossel also has ties to the institute (he has written for The Cato Institute and delivered the keynote address at their 25th anniversary dinner).
The program 20/20 is on ABC and ABC is owned by the Walt Disney Company. A man named George Mitchell is the Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Walt Disney Company and Mitchell is also a member of the Leadership Council of a group called the National Club For Growth (so is Howard Rich).
An offshoot of that group is the political action committee, South Carolina Club For Growth. A woman named Karen Iocavelli is on the board of directors for the S.C. Club For Growth. Who did Gov. Sanford appoint to the state’s Education Oversight Commission? Former member of United New Yorkers for Choice in Education… Karen Iocavelli. (Iocavelli also personally contributed $2,500 to Republican Candidate for Superintendent of Education Karen Floyd’s campaign.)
Meanwhile, a man named Joshua Gross, who moved here from California last year, happens to be the executive director of the S.C. Club For Growth and Gross’s Web log, The Body Politic (www.schotline.blogspot.com), is the opinion voice of one of South Carolina’s most popular statewide political news gathering Web sites, Schotline.com.
In effect, one blogger complained in an open letter to the SCGOP in November, “Mr. Rich has successfully positioned his S.C. mouthpiece, Joshua Gross, as the gatekeeper of political news and ideas in [South Carolina].” Interestingly enough, while both SCRG and the S.C. Club For Growth are backed by an out-ofstate Libertarian and tend to push his agendas, both groups paid for a negative TV spot to run in November that accused The State newspaper of being an outof- state-owned company that pushed that company’s (McClatchy’s) “liberal” agenda.
The ad was so off the wall that WIS-TV General Manager Mel Stibbens reportedly refused even to let it air on his station.
Could all this be just political paranoia by Web log junkies, or could Howard Rich really be a nefarious puppet master with dollar sign eyes and the state of South Carolina in his direct line of vision?
During his campaign for governor, 2006 Democratic Nominee Tommy Moore published Howard Rich/Gov. Sanford/Karen Iocavelli/Josh Gross connections on his campaign Web site calling it the “Endless Circle” and he repeatedly pressed Sanford about the governor’s ties to Rich in televised pre-election gubernatorial debates in October. But aside from a few Web sites and scattered opinion columns aimed with laser focus at political insiders, Howard Rich still remains under the radar of South Carolina’s voting public.
For his part, and understandably so, Rich seems to stay as far out of the press as he can. And while even the Wall Street Journal could not get a direct comment from him about his interest in financing local campaigns across the country, the High Country News did quote him once saying “I made a few bucks in business, so I am able to do this stuff.”
Making his money in real estate in the ‘60s, Rich, now 66, became active in the Libertarian party in the early ‘80s but has reportedly since left the party and is now a Republican.
Though he left the party, Rich and his wife Andrea took over the Libertarian Review Foundation, renaming it The Center for Independent Thought and have also helped fund the Libertarian magazine Reason, according to the Public Broadcast System. Since then he has immersed himself in the workings of politics, getting himself involved in races from Oregon to Nevada, Arizona to South Carolina.
Last year alone, Rich spent a reported $7.3 million on initiative campaigns and bankrolling groups with native-sounding names like “Oklahomans For Good Government,” “Missourians In Charge,” and “Montanans in Action.”
So can someone actually buy an election? That’s exactly what Rep. Bill Cotty (R-Richland) wanted to know when he found out Howard Rich was the one paying for negative direct mail pieces painting Cotty in poor light to members of his own constituency. Speaking about it recently to City Paper, Cotty recalled the ordeal as the “election from hell.”
“They [the negative direct mail literature] weren’t coming out every week, it was every day,” he said about the Rich-funded efforts to unseat him, also calling many of the claims out-right lies. “[Rich] spent a quarter of a million dollars on my election alone.”
Cotty also said the picture that unregulated groups funded by people like Howard Rich paint is that South Carolina may have the potential to be “for sale.” Cotty’s wife, he said, had just undergone two knee surgeries. When he asked her if it was painful she said “Yes, but not as painful as the election we just went through.” What Cotty wants to know about the elected officials who all took Rich’s money: “Is that going to influence their vote on an issue down the road?”
So now we wait and see
Every politician whose campaign Rich and his shell groups contributed loads of cash to except for one came out victorious on Nov. 7. Mark Sanford, Andre Bauer (though a very close race), Richard Eckstrom and Thomas Ravanel all pulled wins. The only anomaly was Republican Candidate for Superintendent of Education Karen Floyd who some believe Rich may have had the most personal vested interest in.
Rich’s view on public education— specifically, keeping the government entirely out of it—is one he seems to hold most dear to his heart and the hearts of many of the PACs and “[insert state name here] Club For Growth” and “[insert state name] For Responsible Government” groups he pumps money into to keep from financial cardiac arrest. And while Floyd’s campaign may have needed a few Rich-induced monetary defribulations, it ended up dying on the operating table. (Although it may have actually been the closest statewide race in S.C. history.)
While in New York last week, City Paper contacted Howard Rich who said he would “gladly answer questions.” When asked to comment on his contributions to S.C. statewide campaigns and members of the legislature or if he bankrolled the negative mail pieces for Rep. Cotty, Rich did not respond.
He also refused to dispel allegations that he pays Joshua Gross’s salary and would not comment on the use of shell groups to skirt campaign finance laws.
While Rep. Cotty says he believes the shell groups are “so unaccountable and irresponsible” that they need to be regulated, others say those who take Rich’s money should just come clean and admit it so they can be held accountable for their votes down the line and how that money may or may not affect it.
Similarly, Shealy believes that if you were to cross-reference Rich’s LLC groups and his friend’s contributions to members of the legislature in South Carolina against their individual votes on Put Parents In Charge, for instance, they would presumably all be “yes.”
City Paper plans to keep an eye on those elected officials with ties to Howard Rich and their voting record down the line.
In the words of Thomas Jefferson: “I sincerely believe … that banking establishments are more dangerous than standing armies, and that the principle of spending money to be paid by posterity under the name of funding is but swindling futurity on a large scale.”
Ross Shealy contributed content to this article
political class, coupled with the distribution charge – not solely possession – suggests that Ravenel was spreading the white wealth around. Governor Mark Sanford seemed apologetic, if not downright hesitant, to expel Ravenel from the South Carolina political administration, saying “These are obviously very serious allegations that we’re constitutionally bound to act upon, and they’ll ultimately be decided by the courts.” So, in other words, had the state constitution not outlined the firing of criminal politicians, he would not necessarily do it. One suggestion I would make is to have the Federal Election Commission look into Mr. Ravenel’s finances because it is not cheap to run for office in a statewide election and the business of selling blow tends to be a profitable one.
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.
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
If you’re in Charleston, this is for you.
Tomorrow, Nov. 2 from noon-2:00 there’s a meet and greet hosted by College Republicans in the Stern Center ballroom. Governor Sanford and Lt. Governor Andre Bauer will be there, along with Comptroller General Richard Eckstrom and Thomas Ravenel, a candidate for State Treasurer. The fundraiser for Lt. Gov. Bauer is tomorrow evening from 6-8 at the Patriot’s Point Harbor Hilton.
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.”
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.
The federal mandatory sentencing for first offenders is 500 grams or more for a 5 year mandatory sentence.
Under SC law 44-53-370
between 400-500 grams of cocaine is a mandatory sentence for first time offender of no less then 25 years and up to 30 years.
Gee… I wonder why SLED bowed out… (f’ing snark)
SLED investigates and brings charges, Ravenel gets 25 years… FBI investigates and brings charges, Ravenel doesn’t meet mandatory sentencing.
It cracked ( pardon the pun) me up when law enforcement
is quoted as saying it was LESS than 500 grams and he wasn’t SELLING it,
just SHARING with friends. Heck that’s about the case with most all of the
criminal distribution cases I’ve handled. Addicts sharing with friends.
One of the poor bastards gets popped and then pops his friends.
Distribution to strangers is the exception.
I’ve NEVER seen a drug ring described in such terms by law enforcement before.
Governor Mark Sanford said “He performed all the functions of the treasurer’s office fine during the time that he’s been there,”
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 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 Treasurer that is so HIGH he can’t walk straight, everything is fine at the Treasury Dept. LISTEN TO ME! EVERYTHING IS FINE!
The Cocaine trade changes the financial, social, and moral fabric of a community, and it places everyone in danger, big time. It causes an exponential increase in the crime rate, i.e. Criminal Domestic Violence, Rape, Murder, Armed Robbery, Malicious Injury to Property, etc… the list goes on and on. Not to mention the illegal drug trafficking and distribution. Has Thomas Ravenel caused harmed to other people? He11 Yes! Has he caused damaged the reputation of the State of South Carolina? He11 Yes! Has he caused damage to the reputation of the Republican Party? He11 Yes! For anyone to say that Ravenel is just having a cocaine party and sharing with friends and not harming anyone is in denial.
-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.
“He performed all the functions of the Treasurer’s Office fine during the time he’s been there,” he added. “I haven’t had day to day dealings with constitutional officers. I don’t go and hang out at their offices on a day to day basis.” The governor went on to say he doesn’t believe these charges will hurt the State Republican Party overall. He did say he thinks there’s a public distrust of political figures at all levels.
HOW WOULD SANFORD KNOW IF RAVENEL DID “FINE” ? SANFORD CLAIMS HE WASN’T THERE!
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!
Judge orders prosecutors to release testimony
The ruling was made in the case involving suspended State Treasurer Thomas Ravenel last month. The judge says the grand jury testimony will be used to help Ravenel’s lawyers prepare for trial.
Ravenel’s attorneys pleaded not guilty for him last Friday to a charge of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute less than 500 grams of cocaine.
He’s currently in rehab in Arizona.
Hey, why don’t they have the trial in Arizona so that they don’t inconvenience him in anyway! The Silver Elephant is being served on a Silver Platter. Just grease the skids down real good so that everything slides through nice and easy.
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.
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.
[...] a real shocker: Thomas Ravenel, who plead guilty last month to federal cocaine distribution charges, left the state [...]