by Longtime Suffolk County Sheriff Steven Tompkins has resigned from the board of trustees of Roxbury Community College. He is facing federal charges for allegedly extorting a cannabis startup.
He formally resigned as chair, with effect from Monday, in a letter to Governor Maura Healey. Tompkins expressed his gratitude for the experience. After serving as a member since 2013, Governor Charlie Baker appointed Tompkinschair in 2019.
Healey stated in a statement on Wednesday that Tompkins made the correct choice by resigning, even if she has not demanded the resignation of her fellow Democrat.
According to a statement released by RCC and its Board of Trustees, Vice Chair Israul Marrero, a police officer, will operate as the Board’s interim chair until Healey selects a permanent one.
According to the statement, we appreciate Sheriff Tompkins’ years of devoted leadership, advocacy, and dedication to Roxbury Community College and respect his choice. By strengthening our community via education, the RCC Board of Trustees will keep furthering the College’s goal.
Tompkins accused of pressuring exec for $50,000 in shares before company went public
After being accused on two counts of extortion under color of official power by a federal grand jury, Tompkins was taken into custody in Florida on August 8. He is charged with extorting $50,000 from a representative of an unidentified cannabis store who wanted to set up shop in Boston.
In 2022, Tompkins was elected to a second six-year term as Suffolk County’s sheriff, having served since 2013.
Tompkins allegedly coerced a cannabis company CEO into selling him $50,000 worth of shares prior to the firm going public, according to federal prosecutors. Several reports state that Ascend Mass, a division of Ascend Cannabis, is the impacted company.
The firm and Tompkins first collaborated in 2019 when Ascend wanted to operate a retail dispensary in Boston. Graduates of its re-entry program would be screened and referred by the sheriff’s office to apply for jobs at the dispensary.
According to reports, Tompkins started pressuring the CEO to purchase the shares while the dispensary awaited its license. According to the documents, Tompkins reminded the executive that he had assisted him in obtaining the license and that he would require his assistance for any further renewals after the executive rejected him.
His $50,000 purchase of shares, according to the prosecution, increased in value to roughly $138,403. According to an earlier Boston.com report, Tompkins allegedly claimed and received a complete refund of $50,000 when the value of his shares eventually dropped and his holding fell below his initial investment. He allegedly used memoranda such as loan payback and (business) cost to conceal the refund.
The Boston Globe reports that Healey stated on Monday that she had not received all of the material.
According to the Globe, Healey told reporters that the accusations are undoubtedly serious and that no one in an elected office should ever misuse or abuse their position of authority. I need more information about this. I must obtain additional information.
In federal court, there was no information about Tompkins’s attorney.
Molly Farrar works for Boston.com as a general assignment reporter, covering topics such as politics, crime, and education.
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