Suffolk County Sheriff Steven Tompkins, who has been a prominent supporter of sanctuary policies and a vocal opponent of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations in Boston, was arrested Friday in Florida on federal extortion charges.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Tompkins faces two counts of extortion under color of official right following a federal grand jury indictment.

Prosecutors allege he used his elected position to pressure an executive at a national cannabis company seeking to operate in Boston.

U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley said Tompkins’ alleged conduct represented a breach of public trust.

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“Elected officials, particularly those in law enforcement, are expected to be ethical, honest, and law-abiding — not self-serving,” Foley stated.

“His alleged actions are an affront to the voters and taxpayers who elected him to his position, and the many dedicated and honest public servants at the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department. The people of Suffolk County deserve better.”

The indictment stems from events beginning in 2019, when the cannabis company applied for a license to open a dispensary in Boston.

As part of the licensing process, the company was required to submit a “positive impact plan,” detailing how it would benefit the local community.

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The company fulfilled this requirement by partnering with the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department to employ formerly incarcerated individuals through a re-entry program.

Federal prosecutors allege that after the partnership was publicized, Tompkins approached a company executive and pressured them to allow him to invest in the business.

Concerned that rejecting the request could threaten their relationship with the Sheriff’s Department — and potentially delay the company’s licensing process or future public offering — the executive agreed.

In 2020, Tompkins wired $50,000 to purchase shares in the company at approximately $1.73 per share.

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Following a reverse stock split, the investment translated to roughly 14,417 shares valued at about $3.46 each.

When the company went public in 2021, its stock was valued at approximately $9.60 per share.

By May 2022, however, the value had declined, and prosecutors say Tompkins began demanding repayment of his original $50,000 investment.

According to the indictment, the executive complied with the demand despite the stock’s loss in value, making five separate payments between May 2022 and July 2023.

Prosecutors allege that Tompkins instructed the executive to label some of these checks as “loan repayment” or “company expenses” in the memo lines to conceal the true nature of the transactions.

Tompkins was taken into custody by the FBI in Florida following the indictment.

If convicted, he faces the possibility of significant fines and prison time under federal sentencing guidelines.

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