Massachusetts Suffolk County Sheriff Steve Tompkins Indicted and Arrested on Extortion Charges

Massachusetts Suffolk County Sheriff Steve Tompkins, a Democrat who has served since 2013, was indicted on Friday by the U.S. Justice Department (DOJ) on extortion allegations related to the cannabis industry, U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley announced.

Following the indictment, Tompkins was arrested in Florida and taken into federal custody, according to the Associated Press.

Tompkins, responsible for overseeing more than 1,000 employees, is accused of leveraging his official position to obtain an equity stake in a cannabis company seeking a license to operate in Boston. 

This indictment marks the third federal conviction of an elected Massachusetts Democrat this year under Foley’s jurisdiction, Trending Politics reports.

“Elected officials, particularly those in law enforcement, are expected to be ethical, honest and law abiding – not self-serving,” Foley said in a press release. “His alleged actions are an affront to the voters and taxpayers who elected him to his position, and the many dedicated and honest public servants at the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department.”

“The people of Suffolk County deserve better.”

Foley added that combating public corruption remains a priority for the DOJ and pledged ongoing investigations and prosecutions of officials abusing their roles.

According to the indictment, a cannabis company approached the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission in 2019 to apply for a recreational marijuana license in Boston. 

Due to the city’s social equity hiring requirements, the company contracted with the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department to employ former inmates as sales staff.

Tompkins formalized the arrangement by sending a letter endorsing the company’s plan to the Cannabis Control Commission. 

However, prosecutors allege that Tompkins exploited this position to demand stock ownership in the company.

The indictment states, “It is alleged that Individual A believed and feared that Tompkins would use his official position as Sheriff to jeopardize Company A’s partnership with the SCSD and thus imperil both the dispensary license for Company A, as well as the timing of the IPO.”

Within one month after the October 2020 letter confirming the partnership, and following increased pressure from Tompkins, the sheriff allegedly secured a pre-initial public offering (IPO) interest in the company’s stock after the executive acceded to his demands.

In November 2020, Tompkins wired $50,000 from his personal account to the cannabis executive to cover the pre-IPO price of the shares. 

When the stock value declined, causing financial loss for Tompkins, he sought and received a refund from the executive. 

Prosecutors note that five checks written to Tompkins were labeled as “loan repayment” and “[company] expense” to conceal the nature of the transactions.

This case follows other indictments by Foley this year involving Massachusetts Democrats.

In March, State Rep. Chris Flanagan was indicted on charges of wire fraud, theft and misuse of campaign funds. Flanagan has remained in office while awaiting trial.

Additionally, former Boston City Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson resigned in July ahead of sentencing after pleading guilty to accepting a bribe, according to TP. 

Foley’s office handled Anderson’s arrest and plea agreement.

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