COULD HAVE BEEN WAY WORSE

Former State Treasurer Thomas Ravenel will spend 10 months in a federal prison after pleading guilty last September to drug charges. He was also fined $250,000. Ravenel could have faced up to 20 years and a $1 million fine.

His co-defendant, Michael Miller, was also sentenced to 10 months in prison.

Ravenel, 45, a mulitmillionaire businessman and one-time U.S. Senate candidate, admitted during his September guilty plea that he bought cocaine from Miller, used it sporadically for two years and provided the drug to guests at his Charleston mansion.

Then, Ravenel told a judge that he threw parties at his home and someone would call Miller, who would deliver cocaine. A prosecutor said Ravenel would buy the cocaine and then provide it to people at the parties that he threw.

Ravenel was charged June 19 with distributing up to a pound of cocaine, according to the indictment. He has been free on bail since then and has sought drug treatment.

In his plea agreement, both sides agreed the amount of cocaine that Ravenel distributed was less than 100 grams, or about a fifth of a pound. That made Ravenel eligible for a lighter sentence.

The parties — and the cocaine — led to the end of Ravenel’s political career. He resigned from office after his first court appearance July 24. [The State]

Ravenel didn’t speak to the media, but I’ll just assume he would have said, “Thank God this wasn’t heroin. The mandatory minimums for that sh*t are like 50 times worse.”

He would have then added, “When I was treasurer, that kind of money alone would have been a huge percentage of our budget. Actually, I’m not sure, I don’t think I ever even looked at our budget.”

I wonder how he’ll roll in prison?

I didn’t have time to cover this yesterday, but the man who said he sold drugs to former state treasurer Thomas Ravenel is back in jail. Michael Miller was placed in federal custody after he reportedly struck a police officer in Charleston — something that will likely hurt the deal he cut with federal prosecutors to get a reduced prison sentence in the Ravenel case.

Miller, 25, of Mount Pleasant, pleaded guilty Nov. 13 to federal charges of conspiracy with intent to distribute cocaine and possession with intent to distribute cocaine.Mount Pleasant Police arrested Miller three days later on charges of assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature and public disorderly conduct, federal court documents filed Tuesday say.

He allegedly got into “an altercation with police” outside a Charleston-area restaurant and “allegedly struck an officer,” 1st Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin McDonald said.

Miller had been free on $25,000 secured bail until sentencing, according to court documents.

“As a condition of his bond, he had to refrain from violating state or local law,” McDonald said. “In addition, if he was arrested on another charge, he had to advise his federal probation officer or pre-trial services officer.”

Miller didn’t report his arrest to federal authorities, McDonald said. [LEE HIGGINS - The State]

This guy’s the thuggest thug I’ve ever seen (on TV). He’s like the Tupac Shakur of South Carolina, only he doesn’t rap, he just hustles; wait, maybe he is Tupac.

He’s so gangstah, he won’t even let the po-lice keep him down. And if he tried to beat up a group of cops, imagine what he’s done to rival drug dealers. Or Ravenel for that matter.

But who am I to judge?  Michael Miller is just livin’ the dream, folks.  Just livin’ the dream…

Here’s a real shocker: Thomas Ravenel, who plead guilty last month to federal cocaine distribution charges, left the state treasurer’s office a complete mess and owing taxpayers a boatload of money.

According to the South Carolina Treasurer’s Office they have about 200 million dollars worth of unclaimed money.

Last month alone the state returned a record $900,000 to South Carolinians.

To find out if any of this unclaimed money belongs to you…call the (803) 737-4771 or visit the Treasurer’s web site at treasurer.sc.gov. {NBC Augusta]

Jury selection in the federal drug trial of former South Carolina Treasurer Thomas Ravenel, originally scheduled for Sept. 5, has been postponed until Nov. 8. U.S. District Judge Joseph Anderson signed an order Monday granting a request to give attorneys more time to prepare, WIS reported.

Ravenel’s attorney entered a not guilty plea for him on July 6.

Probably not, but it’s a good idea. And The State reports that the Common Cause of South Carolina, a non-profit group that takes pride in “holding power accountable,” is calling on the indicted former state treasurer to reimburse the state for next month’s special election.

“We feel this is a way he can make amends for what he did,” John Crangle, the organization’s attorney-director, told The State on Wednesday.

Crangle estimated it would cost taxpayers about $32,000 for the General Assembly to meet for one day, based upon standard per-diem and mileage reimbursement rates.

The Legislature will return Aug. 3 for a one-day special session to choose a successor to Ravenel, who publicly announced his resignation Tuesday immediately after a federal court hearing in Columbia on charges he conspired to possess and distribute less than 500 grams of cocaine. He has pleaded not guilty and is free on bail. [RICK BRUNDRETT - The State]

There really isn’t a precedent for this - that we know of - so don’t expect Ravenel to fork over $32k anytime soon. Not for this anyway.

Heck, taxpayers just spent nearly the same amount for the House District 124 special election.

Ravenel updates:

• Ravenel back in rehab
• Some Prosecutors Say Ravenel May Not Go To Trial
• SC legislature to elect new state treasurer
• Should Elected Officials Be Drug Tested?

State Treasurer Thomas Ravenel officially vacated his post yesterday a month after being indicted on federal drugs charges. In the incredibly brief press conference announcing the decision, Ravenel apologized to the people of South Carolina before being whisked away by his entourage. He did not field questions.

(Video by WIS-TV Columbia)

Indicted South Carolina Treasurer Thomas Ravenel, through his attorney, plead not guilty to federal cocaine distribution charges Friday.

Ravenel’s attorney Bart Daniel says his client entered a 30-day drug treatment program on June 22nd.

US Magistrate Joseph McCrorey ordered Ravenel to appear in court within 48 hours of being released from treatment.

McCrorey set a $100,000 unsecured bond for Ravenel and his co-defendent, Michael Miller.

Miller has been in custody in Charleston on a state cocaine trafficking charge. He also pleaded not guilty to the federal charges.

Former congressman and state senator Arthur Ravenel was in court Friday and signed his son’s bond notice. He says Thomas Ravenel’s family will be visiting him in Arizona this week.

Attorney Daniel surrendered Thomas Ravenel’s passport. [AP]

Also Friday, presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani (R-N.Y.) spoke for the first time about Ravenel, his former South Carolina campaign chairman.

“It’s one of those things that’s highly personal,” said Giuliani, the former mayor of New York City. “All you can do is hope and pray that his rehabilitation works out.”

After Ravenel stepped down from his campaign post, Giuliani’s campaign announced that his father, Arthur Ravenel Jr., would serve as the southeastern chair for the campaign. Former state GOP chairman Barry Wynn took over as the campaign chairman.

“This is a wonderful family that’s contributed a great deal to South Carolina,” Giuliani said. “I think everyone knows that in families, no matter how big they are, tragedies happen, bad things happen. The most important thing is can they rally around and turn something bad into something good.” [LISA FLEISHER - Myrtle Beach Sun News]

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]