Cocaine blues

"Less than 500 grams?" That'd make for a helluva weekend.

COLUMBIA, S.C., June 19 (AP) — The South Carolina treasurer was indicted on Tuesday on federal cocaine charges.

The treasurer, Thomas. Ravenel, a former real estate developer who became a rising political star after his election last year, is accused of buying less than 500 grams of the drug to share with other people in late 2005, said United States Attorney Reggie Lloyd. Mr. Ravenel, a 44-year-old millionaire, is charged with distribution of cocaine, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

Mr. Ravenel, a Republican, is also the state chairman for Rudolph W. Giuliani’s presidential campaign.

The investigation into Mr. Ravenel arose from a drug case last year in Charleston, Mr. Lloyd said. Robert Stewart, the state law enforcement division chief, said that his agents were aware of the accusations before Mr. Ravenel was elected in November but that they did not have enough information to pursue criminal charges. The case was turned over to the F.B.I. in April.

[...]

Mr. Giuliani’s political director, Mark Campbell, said in a statement: “Our campaign has no information about the accusations pending against Mr. Ravenel. Mr. Ravenel has stepped down from his volunteer responsibilities with the campaign.”