The Justice Department indicted Democratic Virginia state Sen. Louise Lucas this week on five charges, accusing the longtime Democratic lawmaker of leading a network that distributed at least 100 kilograms of marijuana, laundered proceeds, and used her political influence to pursue cannabis licenses.
A 45-page indictment unsealed Thursday charged Lucas with racketeering conspiracy, conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute marijuana, conspiracy to launder money, conspiracy to commit honest-services fraud, and maintaining a drug-involved premises. Lucas, 82, surrendered to federal authorities Thursday morning.
Sen. Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth attends a special legislative session, Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025, Richmond, Va. (Mike Kropf/Richmond Times-Dispatch via AP)
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Sen. Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth attends a special legislative session, Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025, Richmond, Va. (Mike Kropf/Richmond Times-Dispatch via AP)
She was indicted alongside six other defendants, including her daughters, Lisa Lucas-Burke and Theresa Lucas-Lamb, her grandson, Ryan Eichelberger, and business associates Prince Albert William Hudson III, Carlton Upton Jr., and Tameka Johnson.
Prosecutors alleged that Lucas led the enterprise, approved criminal activity, arranged for the acquisition and distribution of marijuana, supervised the laundering of proceeds, and used her political position to shield the network from state law enforcement.
The indictment alleged that Lucas used The Cannabis Outlet, a Portsmouth shop she co-owned, as part of the scheme. It also accused her of paying $750,000 for an ownership stake in a company expected to obtain a Virginia recreational marijuana license. She later demanded and accepted a $100,000 partial repayment, prosecutors alleged.
The charges came nearly six months after federal agents with the FBI searched Lucas’s Portsmouth office and The Cannabis Outlet. The FBI said at the time that the search was part of an ongoing investigation.
Lucas was first elected to the Virginia General Assembly in 1991 and served as president pro tempore of the Virginia Senate beginning in 2020.
Lucas has not always had the most amicable relationship with other Democrats in her state, and she has clashed at times with Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) over policy disagreements, including on cannabis.
After the May raid on Lucas’s office, Spanberger declined to comment in detail until more information about the investigation became available. The Washington Examiner contacted the governor’s office for comment.
VIRGINIA DEMOCRATS SAY FBI TAPPED PHONE AS PART OF LOUISE LUCAS INVESTIGATION
Lucas also played a central role in a Democratic effort to redraw Virginia’s congressional map. Voters approved the proposed map in April, but the Virginia Supreme Court rejected it in May.
Read the full indictment here:
gov.uscourts.vaed.608205.3.0_1Download
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[ H/T Washington Examiner ]
