Virginia state Senator Lillie Louise Lucas was indicted Thursday on five charges, including drug trafficking, money laundering, fraud, and firearms charges. The U.S. Department of Justice accused her of operating a marijuana distribution enterprise while holding public office.

BREAKING

Virginia State Senator Louise Lucas has been indicted for racketeering conspiracy (RICO), bribery, & money laundering. https://t.co/tkXEBcYP6q — ThePersistence (@ScottPresler) October 22, 2026

Attorney General Todd Blanche announced that Lucas was among seven people indicted in what authorities described as a sprawling racketeering scheme. The group includes her daughters, Lisa Lucas-Burke and Theresa Lucas-Lamb, and her grandson, Ryan Eichelberger.

“Louise Lucas has served in a position of public trust in the Commonwealth of Virginia for over three decades,” Blanche said in a Department of Justice statement announcing the charges.

“The charges alleged in this indictment reveal the behavior of a public servant who put her own financial interests before the people she was elected to serve. Our federal prosecutors will continue to be guided by the facts and evidence that led a grand jury to indict Ms. Lucas and her alleged co-conspirators.”

.@AGToddBlanche: "This morning, seven individuals were arrested or surrendered for allegedly participating in a large-scale RICO drug trafficking and money laundering conspiracy. One of those individuals is the President pro tempore of the Virginia State Senate, Lillie Louise Lucas...

Senator Lucas has been charged and indicted with five counts: 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." — Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) October 22, 2026

Lucas, 82, has served in the Virginia state Senate since 1991 and has been president pro tempore of the chamber since 2020. In that position, she presides over the state Senate when the lieutenant governor is absent.

She has also chaired the Virginia Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee since 2024. Blanche said Lucas had a duty to place her constituents ahead of herself, but the conduct alleged in the indictment reflected a public servant pursuing her own financial interests.

According to the Department of Justice, Lucas led the Lucas Enterprise alongside a close group of relatives and friends. Authorities said that group included her two daughters and grandson.

FBI Director Kash Patel accused the group of exploiting Lucas’ government position for its marijuana operation. “[They] 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,” Patel said.

30+ years in office. Federally indicted.

Prosecutors allege Sen. Louise Lucas used her position to shield a 5-year marijuana enterprise involving her family—nearly $5M involved. Thanks to @AGToddBlanche, @TheJusticeDept, FBI agents & partners. No one is above the law. -DKP https://t.co/9WZc5Umu0K — FBI Director Kash Patel (@FBIDirectorKash) October 22, 2026

The Department of Justice said Lucas directly participated in numerous activities for the enterprise. Those alleged activities included acquiring and distributing 100 kilograms or more of marijuana and laundering proceeds from drug sales.

The indictment said Lucas opened The CBD Shoppe and The Cannabis Outlet in 2019. Those stores began operating nearly two years before Virginia legalized marijuana for recreational use on July 1, 2021.

In 2021, Lucas and Lisa Lucas-Burke, who is currently running for mayor in Portsmouth, Virginia, also opened The Cannabis Outlet in Portsmouth.

The indictment also described a conversation between Lucas and an unindicted coconspirator concerning favorable language in a Virginia marijuana reform bill. Authorities alleged that Lucas pushed for language that could financially benefit the enterprise.

The FBI raided Lucas’ office and businesses in May. Lucas responded to the indictment Thursday morning through a post on X, portraying the prosecution as an effort by the federal government to target her.

“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 wrote.

“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,” she continued.

Lucas then vowed to resist the federal case. “I’m not new to this. I’m true to this. I will not be intimidated. I will not be bullied. And I will not back down,” she concluded.

The other people identified in connection with the indictment were Prince Albert William Hudson III, Carlton Upton Jr. and Tameka Johnson. Lucas and Lucas-Burke’s mayoral campaign did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital for comment.

The opinions expressed by contributors and/or content partners are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Conservative Scoop. Contact us for guidelines on submitting your own commentary.