The Boston sheriff, Steven Tompkins, is facing serious federal charges after FBI agents arrested him on allegations of extortion tied to a national cannabis retailer seeking to operate in Massachusetts. According to prosecutors, the Boston sheriff allegedly pressured the company into selling him $50,000 worth of stock before it went public, leveraging his official position in exchange for personal financial gain.
Federal authorities claim the Boston sheriff threatened to jeopardize the company’s dispensary license by revoking his office’s partnership unless he was given the investment opportunity. This partnership was key to the company’s operations in Boston, where recreational marijuana has been legal since 2016 but is subject to strict licensing rules.
The Boston sheriff was taken into custody in Florida and will face federal court in Boston at a later date. He is charged with two counts of extortion under color of official right, each carrying a potential 20-year prison sentence. FBI Special Agent Ted Docks criticized the alleged misconduct, stating that the citizens of Suffolk County “deserve better” than a public official who uses his position for personal enrichment.
Tompkins, who has served as Boston sheriff since 2013, oversees more than 1,000 staff members across Suffolk County detention facilities. The indictment states that the unnamed cannabis company entered into a partnership with the sheriff’s office to support community reintegration by offering jobs to individuals recently released from jail an arrangement that helped the company secure licensing in Boston.
However, between 2020 and 2023, the Boston sheriff allegedly pressured the company’s owner to sell him pre-IPO shares, reminding them of his influence over license renewals. When the stock price initially rose after the company went public, the investment grew in value to over $138,000, but it later dropped.
This is not the first time the Boston sheriff has faced scrutiny. In 2023, he admitted to violating ethics laws by creating a job for his niece and having staff run personal errands, resulting in a $12,300 penalty. In 2015, the Massachusetts Ethics Commission fined him for invoking his position during an election to influence local businesses.
The Boston sheriff’s case underscores the importance of ethical standards for public servants. With his trial pending, Suffolk County residents are left to weigh the implications of having their top law enforcement officer facing accusations of corruption for personal financial benefit.