NORFOLK, Va. — Virginia state Sen. L. Louise Lucas, the 82-year-old president pro tempore of the Senate and one of the state's most powerful Democrats, surrendered to federal authorities Thursday and was charged in connection with an alleged marijuana distribution and money-laundering enterprise, the Justice Department said.

A 45-page indictment unsealed in the Eastern District of Virginia charges Lucas with five of eight counts: racketeering conspiracy, conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute marijuana, conspiracy to launder money, conspiracy to commit honest-services fraud through bribery, and maintaining a drug-involved premises. Six co-defendants, including her daughters Lisa Lucas-Burke and Theresa Lucas-Lamb and her grandson Ryan Eichelberger, were also charged in the case. All were in federal custody, officials said.

Prosecutors allege that since at least 2019 Lucas led what they called the "Lucas Enterprise," a group of family members and associates that acquired and distributed at least 100 kilograms of marijuana and laundered the proceeds. The operation was estimated at $4.5 million, FBI Director Kash Patel said. Lucas allegedly used her position as chairwoman of the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee to insulate the enterprise from state law enforcement scrutiny and to influence legislation that would financially benefit the group.

"Today's indictment reveals Louise Lucas allegedly abused her position of public trust as a 30-year Virginia State Senator to put her own financial interests ahead of the people she represents — orchestrating a five-year scheme worth an estimated $4.5 million," Patel said in a statement. He added that Lucas and associates used her committee role "to protect their criminal marijuana enterprise — the 'Lucas Enterprise' — insulating the business from criminal scrutiny and influencing legislation to........

© International Business Times