Pubdate: Tue,  3 Jul 2001
Source: The Post and Courier (SC)
Copyright: 2001 Evening Post Publishing Co.
Contact:   http://www.charleston.net/index.html
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/567

GOVERNOR'S OFFICE TO DECIDE IF IT WILL REMOVE INDICTED COUNCILMAN

ATLANTIC BEACH - The governor's office could decide this week if an 
Atlantic Beach councilman recently indicted on federal drug charges will be 
temporarily removed from his post. Gov. Jim Hodges can suspend Vander More 
Gore until the outcome of his trial, spokeswoman Cortney Owings said. Gore 
has served on the council for eight years. Town Manager Carolyn Montgomery 
said the town will go along with whatever Hodges' office decides to do. 
Gore, 66; his sons Jeffrey Lee Gore, 32, and Vander Keith Gore, 41; and 
Anthony Pridgen, 26, were arrested last week on drug charges. They have all 
pleaded innocent. A fifth man, Andy Keel, 29, turned himself in to police 
on Friday. The men were indicted June 19 on charges of conspiracy to 
distribute more than 50 grams of crack cocaine and more than 5 kilograms of 
cocaine. The government alleges they made $5 million in drug sales since 
1988. According to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, Vander More 
Gore was arrested on charges of cocaine distribution in 1986 and 1990. He 
was charged with crack distribution in 1988. SLED said there is no record 
of him having been convicted in any of the cases. The 1990 charges were 
dismissed.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom