Legal Defense

Support Sheriff Tompkins’ legal defense effort.

Contribute Read a personal note from Sheriff Tompkins

A personal note

A message from Sheriff Tompkins.

Over the course of my twenty-three years at the Sheriff’s Department, serving as director and then Chief of External Affairs and Communications, and as Sheriff since 2013, I have sought to provide services and programming to address the myriad needs of the men and women remanded to our facilities. I am proud of my record and grateful for the support I have received from Boston voters.

As is widely known, I am now facing federal charges related to my association with a cannabis company. While I cannot discuss the particulars of the allegations, my lawyer, Martin G. Weinberg, addressed the charges when he spoke to the media after I pleaded not guilty in court last August.

“Steve Tompkins has devoted his life, professional life, to law enforcement. It is my expectation — strong expectation — that a year or so from now, we’ll be walking out that door and that Sheriff Tompkins will be found not guilty. The facts simply will demonstrate that he was charged with a crime he did not commit.”
Martin G. Weinberg, counsel for Sheriff Tompkins

I look forward to that day, but fighting a criminal case like this is very expensive, and I’m asking for your help to cover my legal costs.

Steven W. TompkinsSheriff, Suffolk County

Contribute

Contribute to the legal defense fund.

Contributions are processed securely by Stripe and deposited into a dedicated bank account established for legal defense expenses.

By mail

Prefer to contribute by check?

Personal checks are welcome. Please make your check payable as shown below and mail it to the address on file for the fund.

Make check payable to: Steve Tompkins LDF
Mail to: Steve Tompkins1269 Hyde Park Avenue #365131Hyde Park, MA 02136

Please write your return address on the envelope. Contributions sent by mail are subject to the same reporting and compliance rules described above and are not tax-deductible.

Why Support

Why a defense fund matters.

Mounting a thorough legal defense in federal court requires significant resources. Supporters have asked for a clear, secure way to help.

Legal defense is expensive

Federal cases involve extensive document review, expert analysis, and experienced counsel — costs that accumulate quickly.

A clear, secure way to help

Contributions are processed securely by Stripe and deposited into a dedicated bank account established for legal defense expenses.

Funds support defense expenses

Contributions are intended to support legal defense-related expenses — attorneys' fees, expert services, and other costs reasonably associated with the defense.

FAQ

Questions, answered.

Answers below are general in nature. For authoritative information, refer to the official legal defense fund and its counsel.

Who is collecting these contributions?

Contributions are received by Sheriff Tompkins for his legal defense. A Stripe account has been established for this purpose, with payouts deposited into a dedicated bank account separate from any personal account.

[Pending counsel review — final wording subject to attorney approval.]

Where does the money go?

Contributions are intended to support legal defense-related expenses, including attorneys’ fees, expert services, and other costs reasonably associated with the defense.

Funds are deposited into a dedicated bank account established to receive these contributions, separate from any personal account. Use of contributed amounts is the responsibility of Sheriff Tompkins and his counsel.

Are donations tax-deductible?

No. Contributions toward an individual’s legal defense are generally not tax-deductible. Contributors should consult their own tax advisors regarding their specific circumstances.

Are donations reported?

Yes, each month contributions to Sheriff Tompkins Legal Defense Fund are reported to the Office of Campaign and Political Finance (OCPF). Contributors may consult their own advisors regarding any reporting obligations that may apply to them.

Can businesses contribute?

Yes, in Massachusetts business corporations and other entities can contribute to legal defense funds designed for specific, non-political purposes. On a monthly basis these contributions are disclosed to the Office of Campaign and Political Finance (OCPF) and are deposited into a separate account, not a political campaign account.

Who controls the payment account?

The Stripe account that receives contributions is held by Sheriff Tompkins. Payouts are deposited into a dedicated bank account established for legal defense contributions, separate from any personal account. The operators of this site do not have access to or custody of contributed funds.

Is my payment processed on this website?

When you proceed to contribute, you are securely redirected to a Stripe-hosted checkout page to enter your card details. Stripe charges your card and deposits the funds into the dedicated bank account described above. This website does not see, store, or have access to your card number.

You will see a charge with the appropriate Stripe statement descriptor on your card statement.