L. Louise Lucas, an 82-year-old Virginia senator, faces federal charges over an alleged marijuana trafficking ring and money laundering scheme

An 82-year-old United States senator, L. Louise Lucas, has been indicted alongside six others over an alleged conspiracy to sell marijuana illegally and launder the proceeds, according to CNN.

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Lucas, a Democrat who serves as president pro tempore of Virginia’s Senate, faces charges including racketeering conspiracy, conspiracy to possess and distribute marijuana, and conspiracy to launder money.

According to the indictment, Lucas allegedly operated several businesses that bought and sold illegal quantities of marijuana to build her family’s wealth.

Those named in the case include members of her family, among them her daughter, Lisa Lucas-Burke, who is seeking election to the Portsmouth City Council.

FBI Director Kash Patel alleged that Lucas used her political position to shield the businesses from criminal scrutiny and influence legislation for financial gain.

Announcing the charges, Patel said Lucas allegedly worked with “a close-knit group of family members and associates” to establish what he described as a “criminal marijuana enterprise”.

Lucas surrendered to law enforcement, according to a United States Justice Department spokesperson.

In a statement responding to the charges on Thursday, she criticised the federal government’s actions, portraying the case as an attempt to target an elderly public official.

“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,” she said.

Lucas added that her experience growing up under racial segregation had shaped her response to the case.

“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 said.

Prosecutors also alleged that Lucas paid $750,000 to obtain full ownership of a shell holding company established to help an associate secure a Virginia licence to sell marijuana.

The Justice Department further alleged that Lucas later received a bribery payment from the associate and failed to disclose her interest in the company in the economic interest forms required of state legislators.

The indictment also alleges that Lucas discussed obtaining a recreational marijuana licence with an unidentified associate and sharing the business’s proceeds.

Earlier this year, FBI agents searched two of Lucas’s marijuana shops as part of an investigation that began under former President Joe Biden.

According to the indictment, agents recovered marijuana and firearms from both locations.

Lucas has advocated for marijuana legalisation in Virginia, which recently passed a law allowing regulated retail marijuana sales from July 1, 2027.

The indictment comes weeks before Election Day, although Lucas is not seeking re-election this year.

Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger said Lucas and her family should have the opportunity to defend themselves against the allegations.

She also questioned the timing of the indictment, warning that it could further erode public trust in the Justice Department.

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The charges remain allegations, and Lucas and the other defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.