Suffolk County Sheriff Steven Tompkins finds himself in hot water after a federal grand jury indicted him for allegedly extorting $50,000 from a cannabis company eyeing a Boston dispensary.
According to WGBH News, Tompkins was arrested in Florida on Friday morning and released after an initial court appearance, with a future date set for Boston federal court. The charges stem from his alleged pressure on a multistate cannabis retailer seeking a license in Massachusetts.
The indictment paints a grim picture of a public servant using his badge for personal gain. U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts Leah B. Foley stated, “Elected officials, particularly those in law enforcement, are expected to be ethical, honest and law abiding — not self-serving.” While her words carry weight, one wonders if this is just the tip of the iceberg in a state where power often seems to shield the powerful.
Details from the 11-page indictment reveal that Tompkins partnered with the unnamed cannabis company, likely Ascend Wellness, to screen and refer graduates from his department’s re-entry program for jobs at their proposed store. This arrangement was part of the company’s community impact plan required by the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission, which granted the license in March 2021.
Things took a dark turn when Tompkins allegedly pressured an executive for stock before the company went public, hinting at his role in their licensing success. The executive, fearing a denied license, complied with the sheriff’s demands.
In November 2020, Tompkins reportedly wired $50,000 from his retirement account to an account controlled by the executive. When the stock value doubled to over $138,000 after going public, only to later drop below the initial investment, he demanded a refund and received $50,000 in five checks over 2022 and 2023.
Local figures have weighed in, with MassGOP Chair Amy Carnevale pointing to the indictment as evidence of unchecked corruption under one-party rule in Massachusetts. Her statement cuts to the core of a system where accountability often feels like a suggestion, not a mandate.
At-large Boston City Councilor Erin Murphy called the charges “deeply troubling,” adding that Tompkins should resign if he admits to the facts. Her measured response reflects a public tired of officials who hold themselves to a lower standard than they demand of others.
Meanwhile, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, once endorsed by Tompkins, has yet to fully review the case, while U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who called him a friend, offered no immediate comment. Their silence speaks volumes about the discomfort of confronting alleged misconduct in their own ranks.
This isn’t Tompkins’ first brush with ethical scrutiny, as he oversees over 1,000 employees at the House of Correction and Nashua Street Jail. In 2023, he paid a $12,300 fine for violating state conflict of interest laws by creating a staff position for his niece and having employees handle personal tasks like childcare during work hours.
Back in 2015, he settled with the State’s Ethics Commission for $2,500 after flashing his sheriff ID to store owners, pressuring them to remove campaign signs for an opponent during a 2014 special election. These prior incidents suggest a pattern of bending rules for personal convenience.
FBI Special Agent in Charge Ted E. Docks didn’t mince words, stating, “It’s beyond disappointing that he’s now accused of gaming a system instituted in the interests of public safety and fair play.” When law enforcement itself skirts the law, public trust erodes faster than a sandcastle at high tide.
Tompkins faces two counts of extortion, each carrying a potential 20-year prison sentence, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. While the legal process unfolds, the damage to his reputation and the sheriff’s office is already palpable.
Appointed in 2013 and elected in 2014, Tompkins has built a career portraying himself as a reformer committed to justice. Yet, these allegations, coupled with past fines, paint a picture of a man more devoted to self-interest than public service, leaving taxpayers to question who really benefits from his leadership.
The Massachusetts Sheriffs’ Association has chosen to let the courts decide, while the Cannabis Control Commission declined to comment on the federal probe. As this case progresses, it serves as a stark reminder that power without principle is a recipe for betrayal, and the public deserves better from those sworn to protect and serve.
