Fourth man arrested in connection with Thomas Ravenel cocaine case
By Schuyler Kropf
Federal agents have made a new arrest in the Thomas Ravenel cocaine scandal -- a French national accused of lying to authorities more than two years ago.
Pascal Andre Etcheber, 45, of Charleston, was indicted last month under seal and taken into custody this week.
He is accused of lying to agents during an interview in October 2007 about "his involvement in the illegal possession, use and distribution of cocaine, and his knowledge of drug activities of other persons," according to federal court papers.
Etcheber becomes the fourth person indicted in the scandal. Also named was Ravenel's drug supplier and another foreign national who reportedly has fled to Europe and remains at-large.
One of Etcheber's attorneys said his client is in the United States legally on a visitor's visa and lived on James Island. Attorney David McCann also said Etcheber is highly educated and worked as a professional consultant who helped businesses in trouble all over the world.
Ravenel was sentenced to 10 months in federal prison last summer after pleading guilty to one federal count of conspiracy with intent to distribute cocaine. The 46-year-old Republican was elected state treasurer in 2006 and was in office for about six months before he was indicted. Federal prosecutors said Ravenel used and shared the drug with friends but did not sell it.
Etcheber was arraigned at the U.S. District Courthouse in Charleston Thursday where he entered a plea of not guilty. Federal authorities will pursue a detention hearing next week. He is being held at the Charleston County Detention Center.
Federal authorities have said the investigation is continuing and that other indictments are possible. But Etcheber's arrest is the first public movement in the case in months.
Comments
barracho (anonymous) says...
If more than 100 dollars was spent on this, it was a waste.
Go to Red's Ice House parking lot and you'll find more cocaine than these guys ever snorted.
March 19, 2009 at 6:18 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Mabilene (anonymous) says...
Or go to:
http://www.clubplanet.com/Venues/1132...
Hark! It's been closed?!?
March 19, 2009 at 6:39 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
devilsadvocate77 (anonymous) says...
Lawyers are funny. 'Etcheber is highly educated and worked as a professional consultant...', blah, blah, blah.
He doesn't seem so smart now, does he?!?!?
March 19, 2009 at 6:40 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Mabilene (anonymous) says...
Pls note how close this is to Columbia's FBI hdqtrs:
Teaser's, Columbia (CLOSED)
4016 Fernandina Rd
Columbia, SC 29212
###
FBI
151 Westpark Blvd
Columbia, SC 29210
(803) 216-9671
###
http://www.mapquest.com/maps?1c=Colum...
Total Estimated Time: 2 minutes
Total Estimated Distance: 1.01 miles
###
March 19, 2009 at 7:15 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
BlackReign (anonymous) says...
lol Mabilene, now that is irony!
March 19, 2009 at 7:21 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
AMAZING (anonymous) says...
DO YOU WANT SOME LEADS, FOLLOW FACEBOOK
Here are some of Pascal Etcheber's friends:
http://www.facebook.com/people/Pascal...
March 19, 2009 at 7:21 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Mabilene (anonymous) says...
Not sure what brand of irony of which you speak, BR.
But in this case, I do believe that the 'cops' were in on it aaaaallll along.
March 19, 2009 at 7:41 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Mabilene (anonymous) says...
The coke whores were busier than a one-armed paper hanger in this place.
...and spreading the 'love' amongst the cops.
~IMHO
March 19, 2009 at 7:44 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
AMAZING (anonymous) says...
The Business Sherpa Llc.
Founding members:
Pascal Etcheber of French origin, with the distinction of graduating from a British University (Exeter) with a Dean's Commendation, has made a career out of improving companies in Europe, Canada, the USA, South Africa, South America and India. The author of several books, he brings to organizations his uncanny ability to find solutions where others only see obstacles.
Contact Pascal Etcheber on +1 843 743 1026
petcheber@thebusinesssherpa.com
The Business Sherpa Llc.
938 W Oceanview Road
Charleston SC 29412
http://www.thebusinesssherpa.com/abou...
March 19, 2009 at 7:51 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Mabilene (anonymous) says...
Yeah -
"he brings to organizations his uncanny ability to find solutions where others only see obstacles..."
Organizations like SC Gov't -- how to find a way to get rid of that wascally T-Rav so Porky-in-Chief can move in on the trough.
March 19, 2009 at 8:01 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
KidYendor (anonymous) says...
Why don't you federal agents go round up the illegal aliens on the street corners and at work sites instead of arresting people for doing some drugs, big deal.
March 19, 2009 at 8:16 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
AMAZING (anonymous) says...
CHARLESTON COUNTY ONLINE TAX SYSTEM
Property Type
Motor Vehicles
Principal Owner: 2009
ETCHEBER PASCAL
32 LENWOOD BLVD
CHARLESTON SC 29401
Principal Owner: 2008
ETCHEBER PASCAL
8 MURRAY BLVD
CHARLESTON SC 29401
ETCHEBER PASCAL 2009 NA 00007174 LNDR 12 OWN1
ETCHEBER PASCAL 2009 NA 00106924 MERZ 12 OWN1
ETCHEBER PASCAL 2008 NA 00069278 LNDR 12 OWN1
ETCHEBER PASCAL 2008 NA 00106386 MERZ 12 OWN1
ETCHEBER PASCAL 2008 NA 00298797 ROLL 12 OWN1
ETCHEBER PASCAL 2008 NA 00298797 ROLL 12 OWN1
ETCHEBER PASCAL 2007 NA 00103568 MERZ 12 OWN1
ETCHEBER PASCAL 2007 NA 00315951 ROLL 12 OWN1
ETCHEBER PASCAL 2006 NA 00101622 MERZ 12 OWN1
ETCHEBER PASCAL 2006 NA 00312192 ROL 12 OWN1
ETCHEBER PASCAL 2005 NA 00099872 MERZ 12 OWN1
ETCHEBER PASCAL 2004 NA 00142517 MERZ 12 OWN1
http://taxweb.charlestoncounty.org/su...
March 19, 2009 at 8:31 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Mabilene (anonymous) says...
Ol' Etchebetcher moved in a couple years before the kill?!?
March 19, 2009 at 8:44 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
AMAZING (anonymous) says...
FOR SALE:
Address:
32 Lenwood Boulevard,
Charleston, SC, 29401
Price: $2,275,000
http://www.fizber.com/south-carolina-...
March 19, 2009 at 8:46 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
BlackReign (anonymous) says...
Obama suggests in his books that he used marijuana and "blow" to ease the pain of his ongoing struggle to define his racial identity.
Oh that poor boy. Struggling to define his racial identity. How sad.
What a joke. When did Obama stop taking drugs?
Autobiography admits use of pot, cocaine, his temptation by heroin.
"I blew a few smoke rings, remembering those years," Obama wrote in "Dreams From My Father," in a section of the book about his college days. "Pot had helped, and booze; maybe a little blow when you could afford it."
Obama wrote that he stopped short of shooting heroin when it was offered to him by a friend.
"I'd looked at him standing there, surrounded by big slabs of salami and roast beef, and right then an image popped into my head of an air bubble, shiny and round like a pearl, rolling quietly through a vein and stopping my heart. :"
Obama linked drug use in his college years with his struggle for identity and specifically with issues of race.
"Junkie. Pothead. That's where I'd been headed: the final fatale role of the young would-be black man," he wrote.
Man, the tears are welling up...I cant see to type anymore...
March 19, 2009 at 8:56 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
albeit (anonymous) says...
Federal agent have made a new arrest in the Thomas Ravenel cocaine scandal
I think you meant to pluralize that.
Federal agents have made a new arrest in the Thomas Ravenel cocaine scandal
March 19, 2009 at 8:58 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Mabilene (anonymous) says...
Even more convenient than the Cola set-up!
http://www.mapquest.com/maps?1c=Charl...
Estimated Time: 1 minute
Estimated Distance: 0.50 miles
March 19, 2009 at 8:58 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Mabilene (anonymous) says...
Oh --
That BHO is so dramatic in his lil' books. I had some guy's cousin from the hills -- went by the name of 'Maxi' I think -- tell me to stick my arm through the crack in the door and he'd pop me with a shot of something...
He got popped before he ever knew what hit him.
Am I writing books about it? No.
March 19, 2009 at 9:07 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
AMAZING (anonymous) says...
CHARLESTON COUNTY ONLINE TAX SYSTEM
Property Type
Motor Vehicles
ETCHEBER PASCAL - Tax Address: 2009
32 LENWOOD BLVD
CHARLESTON SC 29401
ETCHEBER PASCAL - Tax Address 2008
8 MURRAY BLVD
CHARLESTON SC 29401
ETCHEBER PASCAL - Tax Address: 2006
12 JOHN ST
CHARLESTON SC 29403
ETCHEBER PASCAL - Tax Address: 2006
1928 HUBBELL DR
MT PLEASANT SC 29466
ETCHEBER PASCAL - Tax Address: 2004
105 EAST BAY ST
CHARLESTON SC 29401
http://taxweb.charlestoncounty.org/co...
March 19, 2009 at 10:02 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
icantthinkofaname (anonymous) says...
Amazing, what is your angle here? Are you just jealous that these guys hvae made better business decisions than you? Maybe have better looking lady friends? Or maybe you're a woman scorned?
What we have here are some folks who liked to have fun at no ones expense but their own. We should be angry at the system that is wasting our tax dollars on this nonsense.
Heck with all the drug use and tax issues - sounds like they're qualified to be president and secretary of the treasury. We have a KNOWN TAX EVADER running the irs and the people are totally cool with it?
April 6, 2009 at 8:48 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
FinallyME (anonymous) says...
wow, this comment board is back from the dead?? the above post has some valid points. You registered a month too late though. I'm sure you'll be around for his plea hearing.
April 6, 2009 at 9:48 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
wilyred (anonymous) says...
Attorney David McCann also said Etcheber is highly educated and worked as a professional consultant who helped businesses in trouble all over the world.
We certainly cannot expect the court system to put this "highly educated"individual in lockup with a bunch of street punks and common criminals. He's helped businesses all over the world in trouble. What was their trouble, couldn't locate a good supply of drugs?
He might be educated but he ain't too bright or he wouldn't have got caught.
April 6, 2009 at 10:12 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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