Suffolk County Sheriff Steven W. Tompkins has been charged with federal extortion for allegedly using his position to pressure a Boston cannabis company into giving him a stake in the business.
Tompkins, 67, was indicted on two counts of extortion under color of official right. This charge applies when a public official is accused of using their position to obtain money, property, or other benefits they are not entitled to—without necessarily making an explicit threat—because the other party feels pressured due to the official’s authority.
He was taken into custody Friday morning in the Southern District of Florida and is scheduled to appear in court there before a future hearing in Boston.
Federal prosecutors allege that Tompkins asked an executive at the cannabis company—identified in court documents as “Individual A”—for stock before the company went public. They say Tompkins suggested the company’s partnership with the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department could be at risk if he did not receive the shares.
The company, called “Company A” in court filings, partnered with the sheriff’s office in 2019 to meet a state requirement aimed at helping people from communities affected by past marijuana laws. The partnership was included in the company’s license application and renewals from 2020 to 2023.
According to court records, in late 2020, Tompkins bought shares for $50,000 at a special pre-IPO price. When the company went public in 2021, the shares’ value rose to more than $138,000. After the stock later fell below what he paid, prosecutors say Tompkins demanded the full $50,000 back. Between May 2022 and July 2023, the executive allegedly repaid him in five checks, some labeled in ways prosecutors claim were meant to disguise the payments.
If convicted, Tompkins could face up to 20 years in prison for each charge, along with fines and supervised release.
Tompkins has been with the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department since 2002. He was appointed sheriff by Governor Deval Patrick in 2013, elected to the position in 2014, and re-elected in 2016 and 2022. He oversees the Suffolk County House of Correction, the Suffolk County Jail, and the Civil Process Division, managing nearly 1,000 staff.
Before becoming sheriff, Tompkins served as the department’s Chief of External Affairs, building partnerships with municipal agencies, community groups, and businesses, and creating programs such as the “Common Ground Institute” for vocational training and the “Choice Program” for youth outreach. He is a past president of the Massachusetts Sheriff’s Association, current chairman of the board at Roxbury Community College, and has held leadership roles with the National Organization of Law Enforcement Executives.
Tompkins holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from Boston College and a master’s degree in public affairs from the University of Massachusetts. His prior career included work in community health, cable television production, and communications support for the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
The Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department communications team has not yet issued a statement in response to the charges.
