BOSTON, Mass.- A former Norfolk County jail official pleaded guilty in federal court in Boston to extortion-related misconduct and witness tampering after prosecutors said he used his position to direct subordinate employees to perform work at his home and later interfere with a federal investigation.
Thomas Brady, 54, of Norwood, pleaded guilty on June 5, 2026, to one count of witness tampering and one count of using interstate facilities to commit bribery and extortion. U.S. District Court Judge Julia Kobick scheduled sentencing for Sept. 28, 2026.
Brady served as Assistant Deputy Superintendent for Jail Operations at the Norfolk County Sheriff’s Office from 2021 through May 2023 and was later promoted to Assistant Superintendent. Prosecutors said that in October and November 2022, while serving as Assistant Deputy Superintendent, Brady used his supervisory authority to pressure subordinate maintenance staff to perform repair work at his residence during and after work hours.
According to court filings, a maintenance officer complied with Brady’s requests out of concern that refusal could negatively affect his job conditions, including shift assignments and continued employment. On Oct. 6, 2022, the employee traveled to Brady’s residence during work hours to troubleshoot a heating system. Brady later requested additional work, including replacement of a circulator pump.
Between Nov. 1 and Nov. 2, 2022, two maintenance officers returned to Brady’s residence, where they drained a hot water system, removed an existing circulator pump, and installed a replacement unit.
On June 16, 2023, another Norfolk County Sheriff’s Office maintenance officer reported Brady’s conduct to the Massachusetts State Ethics Commission, prompting an investigation. The commission interviewed multiple employees, including those who had performed work at Brady’s residence.
Prosecutors said Brady later learned of the investigation and, prior to Oct. 5, 2023, became aware of a maintenance officer’s involvement. On Oct. 5, 2023, he mailed a handwritten letter to the Ethics Commission falsely signed in the name of another maintenance officer. The letter disclosed information about a confidential internal investigation and identified Brady as a witness.
Federal investigators later determined that a fingerprint found beneath the postage stamp on the envelope matched Brady, and DNA recovered from the envelope flap was also linked to him.
Brady faces up to 20 years in prison for witness tampering and up to five years for using interstate facilities to commit bribery and extortion. Each count carries fines of up to $250,000 and up to three years of supervised release. Sentencing will be determined under federal statutes and U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
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