Boston-area Suffolk County Sheriff Steven Tompkins, 67, was arrested Friday in Florida on two federal counts of extortion for allegedly using his office to pressure a cannabis executive into handing over $50,000 in stock — a deal prosecutors say was disguised and repaid to cover his losses.
FBI Director Kash Patel called it a “betrayal of public trust” and vowed to root out corruption “at every level.”
From Sanctuary Sheriff to Federal Defendant
Tompkins, who made national headlines in 2019 by evicting ICE from the county jail and forcing the removal of hundreds of illegal immigrant detainees, allegedly leveraged a 2019 reentry program partnership with a cannabis company to secure a personal stake before its IPO.
Prosecutors say Tompkins reminded the executive he had helped secure the company’s dispensary license, hinting that failing to meet his demands could jeopardize the partnership — and the license.
The $50,000 Deal
In late 2020, Tompkins wired $50,000 from his retirement account to buy nearly 29,000 shares pre-IPO.
When the stock price later fell below his investment, he allegedly demanded — and received — a full refund disguised through multiple checks labeled as “loan repayment” and “company expense.”
Possible 40-Year Sentence
Tompkins faces up to 20 years in prison for each count. U.S. Attorney Leah Foley blasted the alleged scheme as “an affront” to taxpayers and law enforcement officers who serve with integrity.
FBI Boston’s Ted Docks said Tompkins is accused of “trading on his position to bankroll his own political and financial future,” calling the case “clear-cut corruption.”
Tompkins will appear in Boston federal court at a later date.
