SPress Releasesetcheber pascal andre pr.wpd

							                                             PRESS NOTICE

                                    W. WALTER WILKINS

                                  UNITED STATES ATTORNEY

                                DISTRICT OF SOUTH CAROLINA



                  1441 Main Street, Suite 500 * Columbia, SC 29201 * (803) 929-3000*



                                       March 19, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT PERSON: KEVIN F. MCDONALD
                  (803) 929-3000

            CHARLESTON MAN INDICTED, ARRESTED FOR 

        FALSE STATEMENTS DURING RAVENEL INVESTIGATION


      Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney W. Walter Wilkins

stated today that Pascal Andre Etcheber, age 45, a French citizen residing in

Charleston, was charged in one-count Indictment with making false statements to

federal agents, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1001. The

indictment alleges that Etcheber provided false information in October 2007

during an investigation being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation

and Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Etcheber was interviewed by

federal agents as part of the Thomas Ravenel drug investigation.

      Etcheber was arrested yesterday and remains in custody. A detention

hearing has been scheduled for Tuesday, March 24, 2009, at 3:00 p.m. United
States Magistrate Judge Robert Carr will preside over the detention hearing.

      The maximum penalty Etcheber could receive is a fine of $250,000.00 and

imprisonment for five years.

      Mr. Wilkins stated that the case was investigated by agents of the FBI and

ICE, and agents of the State Law Enforcement Division, and that he has assigned

the case to Assistant United States Attorney Mark Moore of the Columbia office

for prosecution.

      The United States Attorney stated that all charges in this Indictment are

merely accusations and that all defendants are presumed innocent until and

unless proven guilty.

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