Ravenel reports to prison for 10-month sentence

Former state Treasurer Thomas Ravenel reported to prison today at about 11:30 a.m. and was processed into the facility to begin serving a 10-month sentence on a cocaine charge. Ravenel will serve his time in the Jesup, Ga., federal prison, located about 60 miles south of Savannah.

The Post and Courier reports:

Ravenel arrived at the federal prison here at about 11:32 a.m., a records official confirmed.

...

Ravenel’s processing into the prison is a protracted affair. Once inside the prison gates, the personal effects he can bring with him are limited, a camp official said.

The story goes on to provide a description of what life will be like for Ravenel in prison, including waking up between 5 and 6 a.m., living in a two- or three-man cell, and being assigned an institutional job.

Ravenel recently spoke with both Live 5 News and The Post and Courier about his drug use and subsequent conviction on cocaine charges.

From The Post and Courier:

"It was a combination of self-sabotage and arrogance, plain and simple," Ravenel acknowledged Friday, adding that on the last day that he ever bought cocaine — May 25, 2007 — he knew he was going to get caught and that his world would come crashing down.

"I think what happened to me is that I went through a midlife crisis," he told The Post and Courier in his first sit-down interview since the cocaine scandal broke. "I ... wasn't married, no kids. I just kind of went nuts."

From Live 5 News:

In a related story, school board member Arthur Ravenel Jr., Thomas' father, was hospitalized yesterday, his family said. News 2 reports:

On the day his son is to report to federal prison, Arthur Ravenel is in the hospital after complaining of a headache and dizziness.

The Charleston County School Board member's daughter Suzie said that her father checked in to Roper Hospital on Wednesday. She also said that (he) recently started (taking) antibiotics for a sinus infection.