(NewsNation) — A Boston-area sheriff is facing federal charges for allegedly extorting thousands of dollars from the owner of a cannabis company, the FBI announced.

Suffolk County Sheriff Steve Tompkins is accused of using his official position to secure $50,000 in stock for a company that sought to open in Boston, according to an indictment from the U.S. Attorney's Office in Massachusetts.

Tompkins, who has held his position since 2013, was taken into custody Friday morning in Florida.

In 2020, the sheriff allegedly pressured the company for stocks as it prepared to sell its shares to the public.

Tompkins had previously agreed to help screen and refer workers from the sheriff's office reentry program for jobs at the dispensary.

The cannabis company executive feared that saying no to

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