Tertius News is an AI-native newsroom: an AI model reads the linked source articles below and extracts what each outlet reported, so you can compare their coverage side by side. How this works →
Suffolk Sheriff Tompkins pot shop extortion trial starts Monday
Jury selection began Monday in the federal extortion trial of Suffolk County Sheriff Steven Tompkins, who faces two counts of extortion over allegations he pressured a cannabis company executive into selling him pre-IPO stock and later refunding it. Opening statements Tuesday saw prosecutors describe an abuse of power while the defense called it a business transaction.
Trial opens with jury selection and opposing narratives
Jury selection began Monday morning in the federal extortion trial of Suffolk County Sheriff Steven Tompkins at the John Joseph Moakley Courthouse in Boston. Judge Myong J. Joun addressed potential jurors, emphasizing impartiality. Several were dismissed for stated favorable biases toward law enforcement or prior beliefs, and the judge added a question about cannabis views after one juror disclosed strong opinions.
Tompkins, 68, was indicted about a year ago on two counts of extortion under color of official right and extortion through economic fear. He pleaded not guilty at his arraignment. The trial is expected to last two weeks.
The allegations
Prosecutors allege that Tompkins used his position as sheriff to pressure an executive at Ascend, a cannabis company, into selling him $50,000 worth of pre-IPO stock. According to court documents, Tompkins signed off on a partnership between the sheriff's department and Ascend in 2019, which helped the company meet a positive impact plan requirement for licensing from the state's Cannabis Control Commission. The partnership involved employing released offenders as part of a re-entry program.
In 2020, prosecutors say, Tompkins began asking Ascend executive Francis Perullo to sell him stock before the company went public. After Perullo initially rebuffed him, Tompkins reminded the executive that the company needed to continue the program with the sheriff's department to maintain its license. Perullo eventually sold the stock over fears of jeopardizing the company, according to prosecutors.
In November 2020, Tompkins wired $50,000 to purchase stock at around $1.73 per share. After a reverse stock split, he held about 14,417 shares at approximately $3.46 per share. When the IPO launched in 2021, the stock was valued at around $9.60 per share. By May 2022, the value had dropped, and Tompkins demanded a refund. The refund was paid in five checks between May 2022 and July 2023, with memos listed as "loan repayment" or "[company] expense," according to prosecutors.
Defense response
Defense attorney Martin Weinberg countered that the stock purchase was "a business transaction, at full market value, with a longtime friend that had nothing to do with Mr. Tompkins's official position." Weinberg plans to argue that no evidence shows Perullo feared economic loss, writing that "mere subjective belief" does not amount to extortion. Tompkins, Weinberg noted, "never believed" his requests were wrongful or in violation of the law.
Weinberg has also challenged the prosecution's reliance on Perullo's testimony, describing it as uncorroborated and given under a promise of immunity. He pointed to the friendly relationship between Tompkins and Perullo after the alleged extortion.
Opening statements and first witness
On Tuesday, jurors heard opening statements. Federal prosecutor Dustin Chao told the jury, "It's what abuse of power looks like behind closed doors at the highest levels of state government," arguing that Tompkins "had the power to have Frank Perullo sell him stock" and "the power to get that money back." Chao also requested that the jury "pay particular care" to Perullo's testimony due to the immunity agreement.
Weinberg responded: "Sheriff Tompkins was powerless to harm Ascend," dismissing the government's theory that the company was scared of him. He argued that Ascend was not dependent on Tompkins, did not hire former inmates, and used other programs, such as donations to the Last Prisoner Project, to satisfy requirements.
The prosecution's first witness, Abner Kurtin, had his testimony cut off by an objection from Weinberg. Both sides referenced the expected testimony of Andrea Cabral, Ascend's president and a friend of Tompkins.
Background and status
Tompkins has led the Suffolk County Sheriff's Department since 2013. He agreed to "step away" from his position while the case is in federal court, with Assistant Superintendent Mark Lawhorne serving as special sheriff. Tompkins was released on his own recognizance and faces up to 20 years in prison for each count. His term as sheriff expires in 2029.
Tompkins' motion to dismiss the charges, which cited a 2024 Supreme Court ruling on gratuities, was rejected. He is scheduled to return to court at 9 a.m. Wednesday for the trial to continue.
How each outlet told it
The Boston Herald
Framing: Headline emphasizes the opposing opening cases, highlighting the adversarial nature. — Neutral, but includes quotes that convey drama, e.g., 'abuse of power' and 'beating heart of the government's case.'
Facts Included:
Jury heard opening statements on Tuesday.
Prosecutor Dustin Chao argued: 'It’s what abuse of power looks like behind closed doors at the highest levels of state government.'
Defense attorney Martin Weinberg argued: 'Sheriff Tompkins was powerless to harm Ascend...'
Tompkins faces two counts of extortion under color of official right and extortion through economic fear.
Trial began Monday and expected to span two weeks.
Prosecutors allege Tompkins pressured longtime friend Frank Perullo into selling $50,000 in pre-IPO stock and later refunding.
Ascend founded in 2018; partnership with sheriff's department to hire former inmates helped fulfill Positive Impact Plan requirement.
Partnership renewed annually; Tompkins allegedly reminded Perullo 'I helped you get Friend Street.'
Defense argued company was not dependent on Tompkins, did not hire former inmates, and used other programs like donations to Last Prisoner Project.
Weinberg noted Perullo's testimony is 'uncorroborated' and given on promise of immunity, and pointed to friendly relationship after alleged extortion.
Chao requested jury 'pay particular care' to Perullo's testimony due to immunity agreement.
Both sides referenced expected testimony of Andrea Cabral, Ascend's president and Tompkins' friend.
Prosecution's first witness Abner Kurtin, testimony cut off by objection.
Framing: Headline focuses on the trial's start and the 'pot shop' aspect, framing it around the cannabis context. — Neutral, using legal phrasing like 'according to the government’s trial brief.'
Facts Included:
Trial set to start Monday in federal court.
Prosecutors allege Tompkins used his role to pressure a cannabis company into selling him $50,000 in pre-IPO stock.
Defense attorney Martin Weinberg wrote: 'It was a business transaction, at full market value, with a longtime friend that had nothing to do with Mr. Tompkins’s official position.'
Ascend applied for license in 2019; used partnership with sheriff's department to get approval from Cannabis Control Commission.
In 2020, Tompkins began asking Ascend executive Francis Perullo to sell him stock before going public.
After rebuff, Tompkins reminded Perullo that company needed to continue program to maintain license.
Perullo sold stock over fears of jeopardizing company.
Government's briefing says Tompkins demanded full refund even though stock depreciated.
Weinberg plans to argue no evidence of fear; 'mere subjective belief' does not amount to extortion.
Tompkins 'never believed' his requests were wrongful.
Texts and emails between Tompkins and Perullo are uncontested exhibits; Perullo on witness list.
Trial begins at 9 a.m. before Judge Myong J. Joun at John J. Moakley Courthouse.
Framing: Headline focuses on the trial's start with jury selection, without specific allegations or defense. — Neutral and procedural, describing the jury selection process and courtroom demeanor.
Facts Included:
Jury selection began Monday morning in federal court in Boston.
Judge Myong Joun addressed potential jurors: 'This is a criminal case enacted before by the United States government...'
Tompkins, 68, federally indicted a year ago on two counts of extortion under color of official right.
Jury selection to continue Tuesday; trial expected to last two weeks.
Jurors given questionnaire; judge added question about cannabis views after one juror disclosed strong beliefs.
Judge emphasized impartiality; several potential jurors dismissed for favorable biases towards law enforcement or prior beliefs.
Prosecutors plan to present evidence that after signing off to help Ascend get license in 2019, Tompkins asked executive to sell him stock.
After rebuff, Tompkins allegedly threatened to revoke partnership, risking licensure.
Defense attorney Martin Weinberg characterized incidents as 'business transaction' and argued 'mere subjective belief' does not amount to extortion.
Tompkins remained calm during court, chatting with lawyers during breaks.
First elected sheriff in 2013, term expires in 2029; on leave since 2025 indictment.
Framing: Headline emphasizes the trial's commencement and the extortion charge, without mentioning specific allegations or the defense's perspective. — Neutral and factual, e.g., 'Tompkins agreed to step away from his position while the case is making its way through federal courts.'
Facts Included:
Jury selection began at Moakley Federal Court on Monday.
Tompkins has led the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department since 2013.
Indicted on two extortion charges; pleaded not guilty at arraignment last year.
Tompkins agreed to step away from his position; Assistant Superintendent Mark Lawhorne serving as special sheriff.
Prosecutors haven't named the company in the indictment, but documents show Ascend Wellness Holdings was planning a partnership with the sheriff's office in 2019 for licensing.
Partnership satisfied a positive impact plan (PIP) requirement for the Cannabis Control Commission.
Prosecutors allege Tompkins pressured an executive to allow him to purchase stock, and the executive feared threats to the PIP plan and licensing.
In November 2020, Tompkins wired $50,000 to purchase stock at around $1.73 per share; after reverse stock split, he had about 14,417 shares at about $3.46 per share.
IPO launched in 2021, stock valued at around $9.60 per share; by May 2022 value dropped, Tompkins demanded refund.
Refund paid in five checks between May 2022 and July 2023; memos listed as 'loan repayment' or '[company] expense'.
Defense motion to dismiss cited a 2024 Supreme Court ruling on gratuities; motion rejected.
Tompkins released on his own recognizance; faces up to 20 years per count.
State House News Service contributed to this report.
Each row is one claim, attributed to the outlet whose wording states it most clearly. Confidence rates how directly the source text states the claim — explicit and unhedged rates high; hedged, pieced-together, or internally inconsistent statements rate lower. It does not measure whether the claim is true. Status counts the distinct outlets we found asserting it — so a single-source claim can still show high confidence, and a multi-source claim can show medium. Every one of those outlets is named beside the status, so you can check the count against the list. For claims extracted before we began storing that list, the row says so: it names the outlet the claim is quoted from and states that we have not recorded which outlets backed it. Outlets wrote at different times, so a figure that evolves — a casualty count, for example — can legitimately differ between rows; check the "as of" time next to each claim's source.
Claim
Confidence
Status
ClaimJury selection for the federal extortion trial of Suffolk County Sheriff Steven Tompkins began at Moakley Federal Court in Boston on Monday.
ClaimTompkins agreed to step away from his position while the case is in federal court, with Assistant Superintendent Mark Lawhorne serving as special sheriff.
ClaimProsecutors haven't named the company in the indictment, but documents show Ascend Wellness Holdings was planning a partnership with the sheriff's office in 2019 to meet licensing requirements with the state's Cannabis Control Commission.
ClaimProsecutors allege Tompkins pressured an Ascend executive to allow him to purchase stock, and the executive feared threats to the PIP plan and licensing approval.
ClaimIn November 2020, Tompkins wired $50,000 to purchase stock at around $1.73 per share, and after a reverse stock split, he had about 14,417 shares at about $3.46 per share.
ClaimThe refund was paid in five checks issued between May 2022 and July 2023, with memos listed as 'loan repayment' or '[company] expense' at Tompkins' direction.
ClaimAscend was founded in 2018 and partnered with the sheriff's department to hire former inmates, which helped fulfill a Positive Impact Plan requirement.
ClaimDefense argued the company was not dependent on Tompkins, did not hire former inmates, and used other programs like donations to Last Prisoner Project.
ClaimWeinberg noted Perullo's testimony is uncorroborated and given on promise of immunity, and pointed to the friendly relationship after the alleged extortion.
ClaimProsecutors allege Tompkins used his role as a top law enforcement official to pressure a cannabis company into selling him $50,000 worth of pre-IPO stock.
ClaimDefense attorney Martin Weinberg wrote: 'It was a business transaction, at full market value, with a longtime friend that had nothing to do with Mr. Tompkins's official position.'
ClaimAn executive at Ascend applied for a license to dispense weed in Massachusetts in 2019 and used a partnership with the Suffolk County Sheriff's Department, signed off by Tompkins, to get approval from the Cannabis Control Commission.
ClaimAfter Perullo rebuffed him, Tompkins reminded the exec that the company would need to continue the program with the Sheriff's Department to maintain their license.
ClaimProsecutors plan to present evidence that after Tompkins signed off to help Ascend get a Massachusetts license in 2019, he asked an executive to sell him pre-IPO stock.