The Department of Justice has charged Democratic Sen. L. Louise Lucas in connection with a criminal enterprise that acquired and distributed large quantities of marijuana and laundered the proceeds, Associated Press reports.
A federal indictment against Lucas and six other defendants includes charges of drug trafficking, racketeering, and money laundering. The indictment claims she ran several businesses that bought and sold illegal amounts of marijuana.
“Lucas has long advocated for the legalization of marijuana in Virginia, including through legislation. The indictment, however, alleges Lucas and her co-conspirators for years sold and maintained illegal amounts of the drug allowed through her various businesses and shops,” CNN reported.
In May, FBI agents searched Lucas’s Portsmouth office as well as her marijuana businesses. According to the indictment, agents recovered marijuana and firearms from the businesses as part of the search.
FBI Director Kash Patel said in a statement that, “Lucas and a close-knit group of family members and associates orchestrated a multi-year scheme to enrich their own criminal marijuana enterprise, ‘the Lucas Enterprise’ — using Lucas’ position as Chairwoman of the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee to insulate the enterprise from criminal scrutiny and influencing legislation to financially benefit themselves,” AP reported.
“No one is above the law,” Patel said, “and this FBI will continue to follow the facts with our Justice Department and ensure those responsible for criminal conduct are held accountable.”
Lucas, 82, has served in Virgina’s Senate since 1992. She is the president pro tempore, a position charged with overseeing the chamber in the lieutenant governor’s absence. She also heads the powerful Senate finance committee.
Lucas has self-surrendered to law enforcement, according to a DOJ spokesperson.
