Former state Treasurer Thomas Ravenel is expected to leave Charleston Tuesday en route to begin serving his 10-month sentence for his cocaine conviction.

A friend is driving him to the federal lockup in Jesup, Ga., about an hour south of Savannah. He must report by noon Thursday.

Prior to his departure, Ravenel, 45, issued a statement.

"I've made certain mistakes in my life that I regret and for which I'm going to prison for 10 months," he said. "I leave for prison to begin my sentence and to begin putting this nightmare behind me. I want to thank the Bureau of Prisons for locating me in an excellent facility not too far from my family."

Ravenel, a Republican, is not allowed to bring any personal items with him inside the prison fence. Everything from his clothing, footwear, toiletries and medicines will be provided by prison officials, he said.

http://charleston.net/news/2008/may/27/ravenel_soon_will_be_prison42352/