MIAMI – Federal authorities in Florida on Friday arrested Suffolk County Sheriff Steven W. Tompkins of Boston, Massachussetts on extortion expenses, alleging he abused his official place to demand pre-IPO inventory from a hashish government in return for political help.
Tompkins, 67, was indicted by a federal grand jury on two counts of extortion for allegedly utilizing his public workplace for private achieve. He was taken into custody within the Southern District of Florida and is predicted to make his preliminary court docket look there Friday morning, adopted by a court docket look in Boston.
“Mr. Tompkins is a sitting sheriff, answerable for over 1,000 workers, who was elected by the nice folks of Suffolk County,” U.S. Legal professional Leah B. Foley stated.
“At this time, he’s alleged to have extorted an government from a hashish firm, utilizing his official place as sheriff to learn himself,” she stated. “Elected officers, significantly these in legislation enforcement, are anticipated to be moral, trustworthy and law-abiding – not self-serving.”
In line with prosecutors, Tompkins allegedly pressured an government at a Boston-based hashish retailer — recognized as “Particular person A” — to present him inventory within the firm, reminding the manager of his help with their state licensing efforts.
The corporate had partnered with the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Division as a part of its Constructive Impression Plan, a requirement of the Massachusetts Hashish Management Fee.
In late 2020, Tompkins allegedly wired $50,000 from his retirement account to buy inventory at a pre-IPO charge, receiving an fairness stake valued at greater than $138,000 when the corporate went public.
When the inventory value later dropped, Tompkins allegedly demanded and obtained a full refund with 5 checks issued between Could 2022 and July 2023. A few of these funds had been labeled as “mortgage compensation” or “[company] expense” in memos, which officers say had been supposed to hide the true nature of the transaction.
Particular Agent in Cost of the FBI’s Boston Division, Ted E. Docks, known as the costs towards Tompkins “clear-cut corruption below federal legislation.”
“What the sheriff noticed as a straightforward approach to make a fast buck on the sly is an affront to public service,” Docks stated. “The residents of Suffolk County deserve higher.”
🚨BREAKING: Because of an FBI Boston investigation, Suffolk County Sheriff Steven Tompkins has been taken into custody in Fort Lauderdale, Florida for allegedly extorting $50,000 from the proprietor of a nationwide hashish retail firm searching for to do enterprise in Boston. Study… pic.twitter.com/Pv4Hv4cfqd
— FBI Boston (@FBIBoston) August 8, 2025
Tompkins, a Democrat, was first appointed sheriff in 2013 and later elected to the publish. He oversees the Suffolk County Home of Correction and Nashua Road Jail. The hashish firm’s partnership together with his division had been cited in its annual license renewals from 2020 by way of 2023.
The extortion expenses every carry a most penalty of 20 years in jail, three years of supervised launch and a $250,000 tremendous. Sentencing, if convicted, could be decided by a federal choose.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Mulcahy and Dustin Chao of the Public Corruption & Particular Prosecutions Unit are prosecuting the case. The investigation obtained help from the Inner Income Service.
Tompkins is presumed harmless till confirmed responsible in a court docket of legislation.
