NORFOLK, Va. — Federal prosecutors on Thursday criminally indicted Virginia Democratic state Sen. Louise Lucas, her two daughters and a nephew — accusing the group of marijuana-dealing crimes, money laundering and bribery.
Lucas, 82, self-surrendered to authorities on Thursday morning.
The powerful Democrat “used her political position in the Virginia state senate to insulate the Lucas enterprise from criminal scrutiny, to further the goal of the wealth accumulation for the Lucas Enterprise and to seek legislation benefiting the Lucas Enterprise,” the indictment alleges.
In total, seven people are charged in the case, which hinges on her co-ownership of a marijuana dispensary called The Cannabis Outlet in Portsmouth, Va.
Marijuana remains federally illegal for any purpose outside limited research, though Virginia and 23 other states have legalized it under local law for recreational use. The Justice Department largely tolerates state-legal pot businesses unless other criminal activity is allegedly occurring.
Virginia does not currently allow recreational marijuana dispensaries, but does allow businesses to dispense marijuana for medical purposes.
In Lucas’ case, the indictment alleges she sought “generational wealth” and used her political post to influence state policy toward her business.
Lucas became nationally well-known this year by pushing for a dramatic redrawing of the state’s 11 congressional districts to favor Democrats, to counterbalance Republican-led redistricting in other states. The voter-approved plan was struck down by Virginia’s supreme court in May.
