Lucas Energy, Inc. Elects New Chairman of the Board of Directors

HOUSTON, May 11, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lucas Energy, Inc. (NYSE Amex:LEI) a
U.S. independent oil and gas company based in Houston, Texas, today announces
that the Board of Directors has elected Fred Hofheinz as Chairman of the Board
of Directors.

Fred Hofheinz is the former mayor of Houston, a well known business man from
Texas, and experienced in both oil and gas and real estate investments. Mayor
Hofheinz has served on the board of directors of both public and private oil and
gas companies in the past. He was elected to the Board of Directors of Lucas
Energy, Inc. by the shareholders in November 2008. Mayor Hofheinz and his
father, Judge Roy Hofheinz, were instrumental in the building of the AstroDome
in Houston, Texas as well as being politicians, world businessmen, and
philanthropists. In the late 1960's, the Hofheinz family, in partnership with
the Irvin Feld Family, bought Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Circus from
John Ringling North and his brother, and modernized it to Twentieth Century
standards.

Mr. William A. Sawyer, President and CEO of Lucas Energy, said "We are pleased
to have this new leadership to the Board of Directors at this time. Management
looks forward to working with the new Chairman to move Lucas Energy, Inc.
forward."

In other news, Chairman of the Board, former President, and co-founder James J.
Cerna resigned as Chairman of the Board of Directors and a member of the Board
in order to accept board positions at two Northern California green energy
companies. Mr. Cerna will remain on the Board as the lead advisory director and
is still a major shareholder of the Company. William Sawyer stated: "Jim Cerna
was the most instrumental of all people in the founding, development, and growth
of Lucas Energy, Inc. He is, in fact, the best partner I have ever had in the
more than thirty-five years I have been in the oil business."

About Lucas Energy

Lucas Energy, Inc. (NYSE Amex:LEI) is a Houston, Texas based independent crude
oil and gas company that identifies, evaluates and acquires leasehold property
interests, primarily in the Austin Chalk formation of South Texas, Southeast of
San Antonio, that are underperforming or have been shut-in or plugged and
abandoned. These properties are then revitalized by undertaking extensive
re-entry and work-over procedures, including clean-up, repairs and treatments of
the existing well bores and lateral extensions, as well as extending or drilling
new laterals into previously nonproducing areas of the formation. By utilizing
tight field and operating management controls, together with having a
comprehensive understanding of the production characteristics of the Austin
Chalk, the Company believes that it can increase reserves, improve production
and maximize cash flow while avoiding most of the high risks of typical
exploration projects.

The Company's headquarters are located at 6800 West Loop South, Suite 415,
Bellaire (a suburb of Houston), Texas 77401.

The Lucas Energy logo is available at
http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=4192

Forward-Looking Statement

This Press Release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of
Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Act
of 1934. A statement identified by the words "expects," "projects," "plans,"
"feels," "anticipates" and certain of the other foregoing statements may be
deemed "forward-looking statements." Although Lucas Energy believes that the
expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, these
statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual future
activities and results to be materially different from those suggested or
described in this press release. These include risks inherent in the drilling of
oil and natural gas wells, including risks of fire, explosion, blowout, pipe
failure, casing collapse, unusual or unexpected formation pressures,
environmental hazards, and other operating and production risks inherent in oil
and natural gas drilling and production activities, which may temporarily or
permanently reduce production or cause initial production or test results to not
be indicative of future well performance or delay the timing of sales or
completion of drilling operations; risks with respect to oil and natural gas
prices, a material decline in which could cause the Company to delay or suspend
planned drilling operations or reduce production levels; and risks relating to
the availability of capital to fund drilling operations that can be adversely
affected by adverse drilling results, production declines and declines in oil
and gas prices and other risk factors. The Company's complete filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission are available at http://www.sec.gov

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CONTACT: Lucas Energy, Inc.
Brad Holmes, Director of Investor Relations
713-654-4009
bholmes@lucasenergy.com