FBI Arrests Democrat Sheriff After Major Investigation

The FBI has apprehended the Democratic sheriff of a significant East Coast county following an inquiry into claims of extortion. Sheriff Steven W. Tompkins, who holds the position of Sheriff for the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department, which includes the city of Boston, has been accused of extortion related to the acquisition of an equity stake in a cannabis company based in Boston.

Tompkins, aged 67, from Boston, Massachusetts, was charged by a federal grand jury with two counts of extortion under the guise of official authority. He was arrested this morning in the Southern District of Florida and is set to make his initial court appearance at 11:00 a.m. He will undergo arraignment in federal court in Boston at a subsequent date.

As per the two-count indictment, a cannabis company in 2019 applied for a license from the state’s Cannabis Control Commission to sell recreational marijuana in Boston. In light of the city’s social equity mandates for cannabis enterprises, the company engaged Tompkins’s office to aid in the employment of former inmates as part of its workforce.

The collaboration was solidified through a letter Tompkins dispatched to the commission endorsing the company’s application. However, according to the indictment, he subsequently coerced a company executive into providing him with shares in the business—allegedly reminding the executive that the company would not have obtained a license to operate in Boston without his assistance.

“Mr. Tompkins is currently serving as Sheriff, overseeing more than 1,000 employees, having been elected by the esteemed residents of Suffolk County. Today, he faces allegations of extorting an executive from a cannabis firm, leveraging his official role as Sheriff for personal gain,” stated United States Attorney Leah B. Foley in a statement from the Justice Department.

“Elected officials, especially those in law enforcement, are expected to uphold ethical standards, demonstrate honesty, and abide by the law – rather than act in self-interest. His purported actions are a betrayal to the voters and taxpayers who placed their trust in him, as well as to the numerous dedicated and honest public servants within the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department. The citizens of Suffolk County deserve more,” she continued.

“Combatting public corruption is a primary focus of my administration, and we will persist in our efforts to investigate and prosecute anyone who exploits their position of trust and authority for personal benefit.”