LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Three Louisville residents are under federal indictment for allegedly trying to launder money from a drug operation through real estate deals and other large transactions. 

The charges include conspiracy to launder money, money laundering, obstruction of government proceedings and falsifying documents related to a federal investigation, according to a news release. 

U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky and Karen Wingerd, Special Agent in Charge, Cincinnati Field Office, IRS Criminal Investigation, announced the indictment Tuesday. 

According to the indictment, 41-year-old Joseph E. Lanham, 64-year-old Laura Lanham and 43-year-old Richard "Ricky" Elble II conspired to launder proceeds from Joseph E. Lanham's drug trafficking operation, primarily through real estate transactions and other large purchases made with drug money.

The alleged illegal activity took place between April 2016 and May 2023. 

Joseph E. Lanham is also charged with four counts of money laundering for conducting transactions over $10,000 with criminal proceeds, one count of obstruction of government proceedings, and one count of falsifying documents related to a federal investigation.

Laura Lanham is facing an additional charge of money laundering for conducting transactions over $10,000 with criminal proceeds. She and Joseph Lanham both appeared in court June 6. Elble made his initial appearance June 7.

The indictments come nearly two years after police in Jeffersontown arrested Joseph E. Lanham and his son, Joseph M. Lanham, after a raid at their home on Pine Lake Drive. That's not far from the AMC Stonybrook 20 theater at the corner of South Hurstbourne Parkway and Stony Brook Drive.

In previous WDRB reporting, Jeffersontown Detective Mike Lauder said investigators were working on the case for more than a year before raiding the home. 

"We're talking about thousands of pounds of marijuana, over some time, all coming into Louisville, surrounding areas -- a lot of marijuana has hit the streets and it's all gone through him (Joseph E. Lanham)," Lauder said. "A lot of money, drug proceeds, that he's made over the years."

The Jeffersontown Police Department released numerous images of the evidence seized: 

Evidence seized from home of Joseph E. Lanham and Joseph M. Lanham by the Jeffersontown Police Department

During a search of the Jeffersontown home and several other locations, police seized hundreds of thousands of dollars, 20 pounds of marijuana, several guns, ledgers and a money counter. Court documents at the time said Joseph E. Lanham bought several homes using the proceeds from the sale of marijuana. 

If convicted, Joseph E. Lanham faces a maximum sentence of 85 years in prison, Laura Lanham faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison, and Elble faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

A federal district court judge will determine a sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. 

There is no parole in the federal system. 

The case is being investigated by Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation with assistance from the Jeffersontown Police Department, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Drug Enforcement Agency, the Louisville Metro Police Department, and the Kentucky State Police.

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