Co-defendant in Ravenel cocaine case skips hearing; arrest warrant issued

COLUMBIA — A bench warrant was issued this morning for Charleston wine connoisseur Pasquale Pellicoro, co-defendant in a federal cocaine case involving former state Treasurer Thomas Ravenel.

Assistant U.S. Attorney William Witherspoon confirmed that Pellicoro, 53, received summons for his arraignment scheduled for 10 a.m. in federal court here. Witherspoon said Pellicoro, a native of Italy, is not a U.S. citizen and would not have been required to surrender his passport before today. This was to be Pellicoro's first court appearance since he was indicted last month.

Witherspoon said he has no indication of where Pellicoro could be. Law enforcement has been alerted to be on the lookout for him.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Joseph McCrorey granted $25,000 secure bond for a third co-defendant Michael L. Miller, 25, of Mount Pleasant in his arraignment this morning. Miller could be released from custody as early as this afternoon.

Miller pleaded not guilty to the cocaine distribution charges; however, pleas can change as the case moves forward. The government filed a superseding indictment that named Pellicoro as a co-defendant and bumped up several state cocaine charges against Miller to the federal level.

Prosecutors have said Miller supplied Ravenel with cocaine but it is unclear what role Pellicoro played in the case.

Ravenel, 45, is free on $100,000 unsecured bond. He is expected to plead guilty Thursday to a cocaine distribution charge as part of a negotiated plea that could mean reduced jail time or probation. Ravenel resigned as treasurer in July.

Reach Yvonne M. Wenger at ywenger@postandcourier.com or (803)799-9051.