Virginia Dem Louise Lucas, 82, indicted on drug trafficking, money laundering and bribery charges

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, Lily Louise Lucas of Portsmouth, Virginia. A federal grand jury in the Eastern District of Virginia returned an indictment against all seven individuals on October 14th of this year. The remaining six defendants listed in the indictment include Senator Lucas' daughters, Lisa Lucas-Burke and Teresa Lucas-Lamb, Ms. Lucas' grandson, Ryan Eichelberger, Prince Albert William Hudson III, Carlton Upton Jr., and Tameka Johnson. 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. The other counts listed in the indictment that she's not charged in include possession of a firearm, in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and wire fraud. All seven defendants are charged for their various roles they allegedly played in the Lucas enterprise. The indictment alleges that Senator Lucas approved and directed criminal activities and other activities to benefit the affairs of the Lucas Enterprise, that she arranged for the acquisition and distribution of marijuana, that she supervised the laundering of marijuana proceeds, and that she used her political influence to demand and accept a bribe and attempted to influence Virginia legislation for the benefit of herself and her family. Senator Lucas has been a public servant of the people of Virginia. Her first duty should have been looking out for her constituents before herself. But the charges listed in the indictment reflect the alleged behavior of a public servant who put her own financial interests before the people she was elected to serve. Whether you are a Democrat or a Republican, an elected official or an everyday citizen, nobody is above the law.