Feds joined Ravenel cocaine case in April

The call came in to SLED in September 2005: Charleston police were working on a cocaine investigation, and it was a big one. They needed help.

And from the start, Chief Robert Stewart, the veteran leader of the State Law Enforcement Division, saw a lot of promise in the case.

"It was a good case with the potential of multiple defendants, pretty lengthy, a lot of undercover work," Stewart recalled Wednesday.

Although federal officials suggest that Thomas Ravenel was a target early on — up to six months before he became a candidate for state treasurer in March 2006 — Stewart can't comment on when the high-profile Republican became a target. You have to follow an investigation through to its logical course, he said.

"When you've got an ongoing investigation, names come up," he said. "Some of them pan out, some don't."

By April 1, 2007, less than three months into Ravenel's term as state treasurer, Stewart made a call to the U.S. Attorney and the FBI. The state was investigating one of its own top officials.

"I didn't want any conflicts on political or ethical issues," he said.

Less than a day after Ravenel, 44, was indicted on federal charges of cocaine possession and distribution, Gov. Mark Sanford has named an interim treasurer to replace him, the Legislature is already vetting potential permanent replacements, and, political analysts say, whether he is convicted or not, Ravenel's public service career is over.

Now, people are simply waiting on the details and Ravenel's July 9 arraignment in federal court in Columbia. Although Charleston police didn't return phone calls about the investigation, Stewart said more arrests in the general cocaine investigation, not necessarily Ravenel's case, could be on the way.

The allegations against Ravenel have dealt a serious blow to one of South Carolina's best-known political families. Ravenel's father, Arthur Ravenel Jr., is a former U.S. Congressman and state senator, and currently serves on the Charleston County School Board.

"Naturally, the family and all the friends and all the people who have supported him politically, we're just devastated with what has occurred," the senior Ravenel said Wednesday. "I can't say anything more than that."

Calls to Thomas Ravenel and his attorney, Joel Collins of Columbia, were not returned.

After a strong showing in the 2004 U.S. Senate race, the younger Ravenel beat longtime incumbent Treasurer Grady Patterson in 2006. Some people were banking on Ravenel challenging U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham in 2008.

Although Statehouse observers expressed surprise, they said they weren't shocked. The millionaire Charleston developer, who is single, has long enjoyed a reputation as a playboy who was no stranger to the party scene. He admitted as much in a 2004 interview with The Post and Courier, when he was running for Senate.

Ravenel said then that he attended The Citadel because it was the only college his father would pay for him to attend.

"He figured I needed the discipline," Ravenel said. "I didn't have a lot of parental guidance through my high school years. (I) was just sort of wild, a partyer."

Named alongside Ravenel in the federal indictment was Michael L. Miller, 25, of Mount Pleasant. Miller was arrested just before the grand jury indictment Tuesday afternoon on state charges of trafficking cocaine. Miller, who calls himself a self-employed "deejay," has no prior arrest record. Prosecutors won't comment on his connection to Ravenel.

Wednesday morning, Sanford named Columbia accountant and attorney Ken Wingate to serve as interim treasurer. Wingate, a Republican candidate for governor in 2002 and a son-in-law of former Gov. James B. Edwards, served on Sanford's transition team and several other state boards.

"Given the importance of this office, we were faced with somewhat of a crisis and realized it was imperative to name someone to lead this office immediately," Sanford said. "I can't say enough about Ken's willingness to do this here in the short term, and for his willingness to help us look for a longer term replacement critical to managing that office."

The governor's office said Wingate may serve until a longer-term interim treasurer is found, or he may serve until there is a resolution in the case.

If Ravenel is convicted on federal charges, or resigns his position, the Legislature would be charged with replacing him for the rest of his term, which expires in 2010.

Stirred by rumors that Ravenel had resigned — he has not — state lawmakers Wednesday afternoon were bandying about several names for the post, including state Rep. Converse Chellis, an accountant from Summerville; Sen. John Courson of Columbia; and former House Majority Leader Rick Quinn, who ran for treasurer against Ravenel in the Republican primary last year.

The House and Senate each passed a resolution allowing the Legislature to return to session for one day to name a replacement treasurer should the position be permanently vacated before they return in January, if Ravenel resigns or is convicted.

House Speaker Bobby Harrell, R-Charleston, and Senate President Pro Tem Glenn McConnell, R-Charleston, said the resolution was necessary because it's the General Assembly's responsibility to name a replacement. The governor cannot name a permanent replacement, and the resolution was not a way to pre-empt the governor from making the selection, they said. "I am incredibly disappointed that all of this has occurred," Harrell said. "(But) I think we all need to let the court do its job."

If the legislature doesn't reconvene, Sanford's pick would hold the seat until January, something lawmakers don't seem to want.

Even former supporters appeared to be backing away from Ravenel, eager to get the bad news behind the party.

"Our party suffered election defeats in Washington last November partly because a handful of Republican lawmakers abused the trust placed in them by voters," South Carolina Republican Party Chairman Katon Dawson said. "Neither the South Carolina voters nor the Republican Party leadership will tolerate or accept such behavior."

Ravenel could go to trial as soon as early fall. If convicted he could face up to 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine.

Post and Courier reporters Robert Behre and Yvonne Wenger contributed to this report.

Reach Brian Hicks at 937-5561 or bhicks@postandcourier.com