Sheriff Steven Tompkins, who oversees the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department in Massachusetts, was arrested Friday in Florida on two counts of extortion, accused of pressuring a Boston-based cannabis company to sell him stock. The 67-year-old official, responsible for about 1,000 employees, made his first court appearance in Florida and is expected in Boston federal court next.
U.S. Attorney Leah Foley said Tompkins’ alleged conduct “is an affront to the voters and taxpayers” and undermines the integrity expected of law enforcement leaders. She called the accusations a betrayal to both the public and the department’s honest employees.
Court documents indicate the alleged scheme began in 2020, when the unnamed company was preparing for an initial public offering. Tompkins allegedly pressured executives to sell him stock, with the company fearing he could jeopardize its partnership with a sheriff’s department program that referred released inmates for jobs. The concern was that this could threaten the company’s operating license and the timing of its IPO.
In November 2020, Tompkins allegedly transferred $50,000 from his retirement account to purchase the stock. After the IPO, the share price rose sharply, but when it dropped the following year, he allegedly demanded a refund. Despite the loss in value, the company returned the full amount, with records showing five checks to Tompkins marked as loan repayments.
Tompkins has faced prior ethics violations. In 2023, he was fined $12,300 for creating a position for his niece within the department and directing subordinates to handle personal errands.
If convicted, he could face up to 20 years in prison for each count, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. Neither the sheriff’s department nor Tompkins’ attorney responded to requests for comment.
