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Former Norfolk County sheriff’s deputy arrested, charged with extortion

The federal charges against Thomas Brady stem from allegations that he used his position at the sheriff’s office to order department plumbers to perform work at his home for free.

May 28, 2025

2 minutes to read

A former deputy sheriff for the Norfolk County Sheriff’s office was arrested Wednesday morning on charges of extortion and bribery stemming from allegations that he used his position at the department to force subordinate employees to do free labor at his home.

Thomas Brady, 53, of Norwood was arraigned in federal court in Boston on four counts of extortion and three counts of use of interstate facilities to commit bribery and extortion, according to the office of the U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts.

Brady was investigated last year by the Massachusetts State Ethics Commission, which found he violated the state’s conflict of interest law for having sheriff’s office plumbers perform work at his home without compensation. The ethics commission is holding a hearing for Brady’s case on May 29. He is facing up to $10,000 for each violation of the state’s ethics law.

Prosecutors allege that between December 2021 and November 2022, Brady used his position as a deputy superintendent for jail operations at the Norfolk County Sheriff’s Office to order department maintenance workers to perform repairs at his home during, and after, work hours without compensation.

In one instance in late 2021, authorities allege Brady ordered a worker to install a new showerhead at his home during a workday. The U.S. Attorney’s office said the worker feared if they refused the request, Brady would use his position to change their shift schedule, position, or employment with the office.

In another incident in 2022, Brady is accused of telling the same worker to come fix the water heater at his home. The worker allegedly drove to Brady’s Norwood home instead of going to work at the sheriff’s office.

“Maintenance Officer A allegedly disconnected the existing water heater in Brady’s basement, carried the water heater to their truck and drove the water heater and Brady to Home Depot,” the U.S. Attorney’s office said. “There, Brady allegedly purchased a new 50-gallon water heater, which Maintenance Officer A carried to their truck, drove back to Brady’s residence, carried the [heater] into Brady’s residence and connected. Afterwards, Maintenance Officer A allegedly drove to NCSO to finish their shift.”

Between October 2022 and November 2022, Brady is accused of ordering another maintenance worker to repeatedly come to his home to work on the heating system during work hours.

Brady pleaded not guilty to the charges on Wednesday, according to WHDH.

The 53-year-old left his job at the sheriff’s office earlier this month after being given a termination notice.

“Thomas Brady was terminated by this office on May 5^th,” the Norfolk County Sheriff’s office said in a statement on Wednesday. “The Norfolk County Sheriff’s Office is aware of today’s actions by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and has been working closely with them on this inquiry, and we will continue to do so. The corrections profession is built on honor, integrity, and trust. When there is a betrayal of those principles, we all feel it.”

According to the U.S. Attorney’s office, the charge of extortion can result in up to 20 years in prison, while the charge of the use of interstate facilities to commit bribery and extortion can result in up to five years in prison.