Virginia State Senator Louise Lucas Indicted on Racketeering and Marijuana Charges

A Virginia grand jury has indicted state Senator Louise Lucas, the Senate’s president pro tempore, along with family members and associates on multiple federal charges. The indictment alleges a racketeering conspiracy to purchase, sell and launder marijuana profits, as well as conspiracy to possess and distribute the drug and to launder money.

"Lucas, through a close-knit group of family members and associates, built a criminal marijuana enterprise and used her position as Chairwoman of the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee to shield the operation and influence legislation for financial gain," said FBI Director Kash Patel.

The Justice Department says Lucas oversaw several businesses that dealt in illegal quantities of marijuana, and that she failed to disclose a $750,000 investment in a shell company created to obtain a state license for a co-conspirator. Prosecutors describe the payment from the co-conspirator as a "bribery payment" and allege Lucas met the individual at her Capitol office to discuss the license.

Lucas, who has served in the Virginia Senate since 1991 and has advocated for marijuana legalization, surrendered to law enforcement following the indictment. A Justice Department spokesperson confirmed her surrender. Earlier this year, FBI agents executed search warrants at two of Lucas’s marijuana shops, recovering marijuana and firearms.

Efforts to obtain comment from Lucas were unsuccessful. The case is ongoing and further updates are expected.