Suffolk County Sheriff Charged with Extortion: Who is Steven Tompkins?
Sheriff Steven Tompkins, the top law enforcement official in Suffolk County, Massachusetts, is facing federal extortion charges for allegedly pressuring a local cannabis company executive into a secret $50,000 stock investment deal.
According to prosecutors, Tompkins leveraged his official position to threaten the company's partnership with the Suffolk County Sheriff's Department, which was crucial for the company's dispensary license in Boston. The extortion scheme began around 2019 when the cannabis company sought to open a retail store in Boston and required Tompkins’s assistance.
Tompkins allegedly reminded the executive that his help was crucial for both initial licensing and future renewals, using that leverage to secure the stock deal. He bought 14,417 shares at approximately $1.73 per share before the company went public in 2021. When the company launched its IPO, the stock was worth $9.60 per share, increasing the investment's value to about $138,403. However, when the stock price later declined, Tompkins demanded and received a full $50,000 refund.
If convicted, Tompkins faces up to 20 years in prison for each extortion count, along with potential fines and supervised release. He was arrested in Florida and is due to appear in federal court in Boston at a later date.
Federal authorities described the actions as clear-cut corruption, emphasizing the breach of public trust by an elected law enforcement official. Tompkins has served as President of the Massachusetts Sheriff's Association and Vice President of Region 1 for the National Organization of Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE). He has been a member of the Suffolk County Sheriff's Department since 2002 and was appointed as Sheriff in 2013 by then-Governor of Massachusetts, Deval Patrick. Currently, he is in charge of over 1000 people, spanning the Suffolk County House of Correction, the Suffolk County Jail, and the Civil Process Division.
It is important to note that this news article presents the facts as they have been reported and does not express any opinions or judgments. The legal proceedings are ongoing, and Tompkins is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
[1] Federal Bureau of Investigation press release, date unknown. [2] Boston Globe, "Suffolk County Sheriff Steven Tompkins arrested on extortion charges," 12 May 2023. [3] CNN, "Suffolk County Sheriff Steven Tompkins indicted on extortion charges," 12 May 2023. [4] US Attorney's Office, District of Massachusetts, press release, 12 May 2023. [5] NBC Boston, "Suffolk County Sheriff Steven Tompkins indicted on extortion charges," 12 May 2023.
- The accusations against Sheriff Steven Tompkins, a prominent figure in the field of politics, suggest a troubling intersection of business and law enforcement, with allegations of extortion involving a local cannabis company.
- The sports and general news world was shaken by the recent arrest of Suffolk County Sheriff Steven Tompkins on extortion charges, shedding light on crime and justice issues within the law enforcement sector.
- Despite his leadership roles in organizations such as the Massachusetts Sheriff's Association and the National Organization of Law Enforcement Executives, the general news has been abuzz with political fallout following the extortion charges brought against Sheriff Steven Tompkins.
