Suffolk County sheriff files motion to dismiss charges against him

Suffolk County Sheriff Steven Tompkins on Friday filed a motion to dismiss the government's extortion charges against him.

Tompkins in the filing denied that he engaged in schemes to extort a cannabis executive at a company previously reported to have been Ascend Wellness Holdings. He also denied seeking to buy pre-IPO stock in the company in "exchange" for "favorable action or inaction" by his office.

Tompkins also denied causing the cannabis executive — previously reported to have been Frank Perullo — "to believe and fear" that the sheriff would use his official position to hurt Ascend's standing with the sheriff's office.

"Mr. Tompkins made an investment as did many others, paid full value for it, and received no financial benefit not conferred on other buyers," the motion says. It also argues that the facts alleged by prosecutors are "legally insufficient to support a quid pro quo" case and amount to federal overreach.

Tompkins, 68, was arrested by the FBI in early August and pleaded not guilty to two counts of extortion. Prosecutors allege that he pressured Perullo to let him buy $50,000 of shares in Ascend before the company went public, in exchange for a "partnership" with the sheriff's department to hire people reentering the workforce after jail. Tompkins later demanded his money back, prosecutors allege.

Tompkins agreed in late August to "step away" from the sheriff's role while the case is in court, as his Democratic political allies, including Gov. Maura Healey, faced pressure from critics.