Suffolk County Sheriff Steven Tompkins has been arrested by the FBI on charges of extortion, accused of threatening to end a partnership with a national cannabis retailer unless it sold him over $50,000 worth of stock before the company went public.
According to court documents, Tompkins allegedly demanded the stock deal and later sought repayment after the share value fell below his initial investment. The indictment charges him with two counts of extortion under colour of official right, each carrying a maximum 20-year prison sentence.
US Attorney Leah Foley stated, “Elected officials, particularly those in law enforcement, are expected to be ethical, honest and law abiding – not self-serving.” The cannabis company involved has not been named in the indictment, but media reports identify it as Ascend Mass, part of Ascend Cannabis.
Tompkins, a Democrat who has served as sheriff since 2013, oversees the largest county correctional system in Massachusetts. He previously paid fines in 2023 for creating a no-bid job for his niece and for asking business owners to remove a political opponent's campaign signs.
FBI Special Agent Ted Docks said, “We believe what the sheriff saw as an easy way to make a quick buck on the sly is clearcut corruption under federal law.” Boston Mayor Michelle Wu called the allegations serious, noting the high standards expected of elected officials.
