Ravenel co-defendant flees
Pellicoro, suspect in cocaine case, claims he is staying in Switzerland
Pasquale Pellicoro
Pellicoro, suspect in cocaine case, claims he is staying in Switzerland
COLUMBIA — The Mount Pleasant wine merchant indicted in the Thomas Ravenel cocaine case is on the run.
And, if his story is true, he's in Switzerland.
Pasquale Pellicoro was a no-show for his arraignment here Wednesday on a charge of distributing cocaine, prompting U.S. Magistrate Judge Joseph McCrorey to issue a warrant for his arrest.
Hours later, Pellicoro, 53, told The Post and Courier during a phone interview that he couldn't find a lawyer to take his case, so he opted to leave the country about three days ago.
He said he's in Switzerland, and that he's not coming back until he feels safe.
"If I feel secure and my rights are protected, yes," he said.
The only proof he could offer of his location was the phone bill the newspaper would receive in a couple of weeks.
Pellicoro is a native of Italy and is thought not to be a U.S. citizen. He would not have been required to surrender his passport before the arraignment, officials said.
Pellicoro's flight overshadowed a fast-moving day in the Ravenel case in which co-defendant Michael Miller, 25, a deejay whom authorities said supplied Ravenel with cocaine, finally was freed on bail after months in the Charleston County Detention Center.
McCrorey granted Miller a $25,000 secure bond, with Miller's mother, Lavern Cheek of Mount Pleasant, using a parcel of property on Edisto Island she owns worth $32,700 as collateral. Miller pleaded not guilty to nine counts of cocaine distribution in federal charges that have
replaced a state case against him.
Miller was expected to walk out of jail late Wednesday.
Ravenel, 45, is expected to plead guilty today to cocaine distribution under 100 grams as part of a cooperative plea arrangement his lawyers hope will avoid jail time. Ravenel, a multimillionaire Charleston developer, resigned as treasurer in July after less than eight months on the job after the cocaine allegations surfaced. He received in-patient care at facilities in Arizona and New Mexico but has not specified the type of treatment he received. Prosecutors say Ravenel shared the drug but did not sell it.
The state Legislature elected former Summerville Rep. Converse Chellis on Aug. 3 to replace Ravenel.
Wednesday's arraignment would have been Pellicoro's first court appearance since he was named in a superseding cocaine indictment Aug. 22 in the Ravenel case. During his interview with The Post and Courier, he spoke briefly of his relationship with Ravenel, saying it dated back seven years. The two met at a language school where Pellicoro was instructing him in French, he said.
He said he got to know Ravenel through a circle of friends who were interested in the arts and would meet to share stories. They came from all over, he said, including Atlanta, Los Angeles and Paris.
"Thomas was always mixing people together," Pellicoro said. He has "always been very eclectic." Many different languages were spoken in his house, he said.
One routine was to get together at friends' homes, including Ravenel's, after Charleston's bars closed at 2 a.m, he said.
Pellicoro declined to discuss specifics of the allegations against him but said that sometimes at house parties, people would go into a bathroom in groups of twos or threes. He never "really saw" Ravenel do cocaine, he said.
"I don't even know what I was doing wrong," Pellicoro said of the federal cocaine distribution charge against him. He said he did not use cocaine.
Pellicoro also confirmed that investigators presented him names of some of the people they were interested in.
"Some were close to me; some I didn't know at all," he said.
Pellicoro moved to the United States in 1994 on a work visa and handled Charleston-area accounts for the Greenville-based wine wholesaler Champagne and Cotton Inc., according to a 2003 court case.
Most recently, he became known for sponsoring wine tastings at restaurants around Charleston. The owner of one local wine store said Wednesday the allegations of drug use don't fit the man. "He knew a lot about wine," said the owner, who identified himself only as Michael. "I cannot believe it."
Pellicoro's second wife filed for divorce last month after six years of marriage, according to Charleston County records. She declined comment Wednesday.
Pellicoro said the drug allegations have destroyed his business and he's lost clients. There might not be anything in Charleston for him to come back to, he said.
"I lost my life there because of that," he said.
Pellicoro said he has told a State Law Enforcement Division agent of his whereabouts. A spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's Office said Wednesday afternoon that officials hope to locate Pellicoro soon. Agents "are working to identify his location as we speak," he said.
Reach Schuyler Kropf at 937-5551 or skropf@postandcourier.com.
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Comments
whalernut (anonymous) says...
Sounds to me like the party has come to an end.
September 6, 2007 at 4:41 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
billyjoejimbob (anonymous) says...
when all else fails, run away!
September 6, 2007 at 6:48 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
SCPI (anonymous) says...
With the bridge named after Arthur Ravenel, any thought of naming the white lines on the bridge after Thomas Ravenel?
September 6, 2007 at 7:33 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
thequestion (anonymous) says...
After he heard about the sweet deal Rav's worked out, he knew who the fall guy was going to be.
September 6, 2007 at 7:56 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
GG (anonymous) says...
He said he's in Switzerland, and that he's not coming back until he feels safe.
I guess the fear for his safety has to do with his familiarity with our American prisoners, oops, I mean his old friends.
September 6, 2007 at 8 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
stephaniem (anonymous) says...
mom used to tell me to never marry a lawyer as they were all friends and watched each other's back
maybe ravenel received too sweet a deal and no lawyer was going to help this guy out as he had no political ties
I would run if I was him and wasn't a US citizen. The one thing that holds me this place is my family as I love italy and australia.
so long as he doesn't come back, good riddance
saves the taxpayers money on the trial and the prison sentence
September 6, 2007 at 8:13 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
charlene68 (anonymous) says...
hahaahhah this is hilarious.... hey yall !!! maybe he went to Switzerland for drug rehab, maybe it's better over there hahahahahah.
September 6, 2007 at 8:32 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
grannyofsix (anonymous) says...
you guys a way to funny this morning LOL love it good morning all my passport is in order
September 6, 2007 at 8:52 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Kerry (anonymous) says...
You have to wonder which one of the "names" on the investigator's list provided the means or the private jet to quickly wisk this Euro-scum off to a neutral country.
When you hear of all these "house parties" and see the high living...(no pun intended)...that some in the Charleston social scence seem to enjoy without any "bonafide" source of income to match their lifestyle, it makes you wonder:
Do these people work? Where does the money come from?
Has anyone priced a Bentley or Aston Martin lately? How much does it take to buy a restaurant or night club on the Peninsula and completely refurbish it every couple of years? Who lives in those houses at Wild Dunes, Kiawah, and Seabrook?
Ponder these things while you sit in traffic on the way to your nine to five.
September 6, 2007 at 9:17 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Kerry (anonymous) says...
...while listening to Eric Clapton.
September 6, 2007 at 9:18 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
JonWithnal (anonymous) says...
I'm sure any party with Ravenel involved was anything but sophisticated. Can you imagine what it sounds like when that rube tries to speak french? Tell it like it is: 'Spoiled Provincial Moron Hosts Coke Parties for Euro-trash Friends'
September 6, 2007 at 9:49 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
hawneena (anonymous) says...
What is the matter with you people? That poor man is the Alps learning how to yodel. It sounds better than regular screaming when it echos off the prison walls.
September 6, 2007 at 10:25 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
juniemoon1957 (anonymous) says...
ummm....and the name of that song was?
September 6, 2007 at 10:26 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Local (anonymous) says...
He couldn't find a lawyer to take his case? In Charleston? Hilarious.
September 6, 2007 at 10:33 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
carolinabeachgirl (anonymous) says...
Are you telling me that Andy Savage turned down a media making case?
September 6, 2007 at 10:38 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
virg28 (anonymous) says...
Well, didn't have $50,000 like others so, no couldn't find a lawyer or somebody to pay for his lawyer.......like others.......
September 6, 2007 at 10:46 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
hawneena (anonymous) says...
Maybe the guy is more afraid of somebody than he is of going to prison. Chances are he was "asked" to go away.
He definitely picked the wrong playmates.
September 6, 2007 at 11:06 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
merrillthinks (anonymous) says...
Gotta love all the hoopla over a victimless crime.
Whos paying attention to all the plutonium thats being shipped and stored in SC? The nuclear fallout wont be near as much fun.
September 6, 2007 at 12:09 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
grannyofsix (anonymous) says...
the good ole boy system at work again ok he gets voted in against a democ. then oh no they have someone in office that does and sells drugs then they have him resign and put who they wanted in the first place but didnt think they would get voted in hmmmm. something just doesnt smell right here
September 6, 2007 at 12:10 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
merrillthinks (anonymous) says...
NancyN
Its actually the Savannah River Site (SRS) in South Carolina near Aiken.
September 6, 2007 at 12:39 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
stephaniem (anonymous) says...
I still know of a police officer who sell coke in his spare time. My exboyfriend used to buy it from him in front of me (don't throw the tomatoes, yet)
who would you go to anonymously so you and your family doesn't get hurt/killed?
September 6, 2007 at 12:46 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
biggtdogg (anonymous) says...
Where is Waldo? (bunch of quacks!)
September 6, 2007 at 1:34 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Kerry (anonymous) says...
Poor, poor Pellicoro,
He "lost his life" in Charleston because of drugs...
Everything was fine as long as the white powder was getting to his nose and the green bills were going into his (Swiss?)bank account?
Somebody, please go grab this worm and squeeze him until he spits out a few more names for the media to have a field day with. Then, turn him loose and let Cocaine justice prevail saving the taxpayers the cost of a trial, incarceration, and a funeral.
September 6, 2007 at 1:40 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
lillycollette (anonymous) says...
On 18 Aug. 2001 the then 47 year old Pasquale Pellicoro married his second wife Holly Grace McLeod who was 21 years younger than him and apparently already in residence with him at 305 Harbor Pointe Drive #7, Mt. Pleasant.
Pellicoro could have become a U.S. citizen by virtue of that marriage. I believe Pellicoro would then enjoy dual citizenship in Italy and the United States.
Holly filed for divorce (case file no.: 2007-DR-10-002902) on the 3rd of August just 19 days before Pellicoro was indicted in the Ravenel case. Holly certainly has good timing.
As neither of them had listed attorneys in that divorce action and Holly wanted to go straight to Final Hearing it can be presumed that they reached a divorce settlement which should have been filed with the Summons & Complaint.
I don't have to tell experienced reporters their rights and the value of following that lead now do I. Holly's grounds for divorce, any financial declarations and divorce agreement could shed some light on what was really going on with Pellicore.
September 6, 2007 at 2:32 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Dmoney (anonymous) says...
what happens to black men when they are caught with cocaine SC? do they even get a chance to flee not only the state but the country?
September 6, 2007 at 4:01 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
charlene68 (anonymous) says...
He is probably got money stashed over there somewhere, thats probably why he went hahahahahaha wonder where he makes it all,, hey yall maybe he's with the italian mafia,,, who knows...
September 6, 2007 at 4:14 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
martin (anonymous) says...
I hope the Fed who wasn't watching this guy gets disciplined.
But, I think this is headed up the ladder of SC GOP politics and there may be people in our politicized US Justice Department who want people who can identify the guests at the Ravenel parties to slip away.
September 6, 2007 at 6:57 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
wonderdog (anonymous) says...
"....that sometimes at house parties, people would go into a bathroom in groups of twos or threes."
gee, what do you THINK they were doing? I can only think of a couple of scenarios......ewwww
September 6, 2007 at 7:28 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
hawneena (anonymous) says...
wonderdog, LOL Cocaine is a helluva drug.
September 6, 2007 at 7:34 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Hubert (anonymous) says...
He will come back when it's safe????
This case come bring down the whole "so call" Charleston Society......Especially the GOP gang.
September 6, 2007 at 8:28 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
hawneena (anonymous) says...
No, my son says that all the time, and I always tell him that he better not be speaking from personal experience.BTW- he told me that is from Dave Chapell's show.
September 6, 2007 at 8:30 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
hawneena (anonymous) says...
wonderdog, maybe Sen. Craig was in the boy's room with them.
September 6, 2007 at 8:31 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
abitskeptical (anonymous) says...
Ever heard of innocent until proven guilty?
Too bad most folks don't realize a prosecutor can get a ham sandwich indicted if he/she wants to.
By the way, I read somewhere that 97% of federal indictments returned in SC are plead out. Wanna know how/why most of that happens? Exactly like what we've seen in this case. Prosecutors actually get real evidence on one person who, in order to reduce his sentence, gives the prosecutors some names. Prosecutors go to the names and tell them they have 10 other people who will testify that they bought or sold or gave drugs..or whatever the story is, and if they go to trial they will be looking at some absurd sentence like 30 or 40 years, but if they just cooperate and enter a plea they could be out in 3-5 yrs. Prosecutors get all sorts of 'credit' for 'convictions' without ever having to produce even a minuscule amount of physical evidence that a crime actually took place.
September 6, 2007 at 9:10 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
DBurbage (anonymous) says...
The rich beat the system, the foreign leave the country and the poor go to prison.That's what we call american jistice.
September 7, 2007 at 12:05 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sniffsniff (anonymous) says...
I bet you all would like to know who was at the parties... I bet all of you are longing to know... Well I know who was there... And you are right, it was the who's who of the GOP and Charleston, but also of the whole state of South Carolina... How do I know? Because I was there... I was at some of the parties. If you only knew it would BLOW your mind, pun intended... And I too am thinking about skipping the country... Maybe I could hang out with my good friend Pellicoro... I was wondering why I haven't seen him at any of the parties... Oh well...
September 7, 2007 at 5:07 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bunchofcrap (anonymous) says...
yes, we get a good idea, aging men , works better than viagra, young women...we get the idea why they needed so much drugs. concerning his wife, no good timing for divorce I'm sure he told her, everybody knew he was leaving. What she was doing while he was to these parties ?
September 7, 2007 at 9:52 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
whatcanwedo (anonymous) says...
Nothing that we can do! Money will buy anything even the biggest lie in the world! How sad is that!
September 7, 2007 at 10:35 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sniffsniff (anonymous) says...
She was at the parties right alongside with him... Sometimes she was there and he wasn't... Other times she was the party... Get my drift? It's a whole different world down here in Chucktown... And even greater this side of Broad Street...
September 7, 2007 at 1:48 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
whatcanwedo (anonymous) says...
Yup, this is what bunchofcrap meant......the wife....the innocent.....not so much! But, you know, you've got to blame the man!
September 7, 2007 at 1:55 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bunchofcrap (anonymous) says...
what is your problem lillycollette ? the only reason she filed, is because he knew what was coming down, settlement, for what ? they have nothing ! nothing was coming down, she was not innocent either.
September 8, 2007 at 9:48 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
lillycollette (anonymous) says...
Given the level of impact the judiciary has on the lives of our citizens and the widespread abuse of drugs across socioeconomic lines, there is NO EXCUSE for failing to require random drug testing of every member of the S.C. judiciary.
October 13, 2007 at 3:28 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
suzyq (anonymous) says...
I hear his ex wife met some Hollywood dude and moved to San Francisco. She's partying it up on another coast now, far away from Charleston.
October 29, 2007 at 2:49 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tigerclem77 (anonymous) says...
Holly Mcleod moved from South Carolina to San Francisco?
December 4, 2007 at 7:25 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
satya (anonymous) says...
Doubt that anyone's still following this story, but for the few that stumble upon it like I did:
I used to know Pasquale & Holly very well, and I've also met Thomas Ravanel once or twice (yes, this guy is pure Southern-bred slime, and his French is atrocious). Anyway, in all the time I knew Pasquale, he never touched a drug aside from booze, espresso, and the occasional cigar. He definitely condoned drug use in others, but it just wasn't his thing.
As for the divorce, I don't know all the details surrounding it. I can say, however, Pasquale & Holly's relationship seemed rocky (and they were separated) long before this cocaine scandal was underway.
Finally, in all the time I knew Pasquale, he was never a rich man; I very much doubt that he's now tapping into a fat Swiss bank account.
All this said, Pasquale certainly has his shortcomings and he's no Man of the Year. He's also not a cokehead.
September 16, 2008 at 8:52 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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