Virginia Sen. Louise Lucas Indicted on Racketeering and Bribery Charges
Status: Alleged. Lucas has not been convicted. She has denied wrongdoing and calls the prosecution an attack.
The allegations
The Justice Department says Lucas led a criminal marijuana distribution enterprise run with family members and used her position as a senior state senator to shield it. The indictment, announced October 22, includes racketeering counts and honest-services fraud through bribery. The FBI estimates the operation at about $4.5 million.
Who she is
Lucas, 82, chairs the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee, which controls the state budget. That makes her one of the most powerful budget figures in Virginia's legislature.
Her response
Lucas has denied wrongdoing and calls the prosecution an attack.
Sources
- DOJ press release www.justice.gov
- Daily Progress dailyprogress.com
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