A former Norfolk County sheriff’s office official was sentenced last week to 20 months in prison for directing subordinates to perform unpaid maintenance work at his residence, according to federal prosecutors. Thomas Brady, 55, of Norwood, was also ordered to pay a $5,000 fine and serve two years of supervised release, as announced by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Massachusetts.

Brady, who held the position of assistant superintendent at the Norfolk County Sheriff’s Office (NCSO), pleaded guilty in June to charges of witness tampering and the use of interstate facilities to commit bribery and extortion. He had been promoted to assistant superintendent in May 2023, having previously served as assistant deputy superintendent for jail operations from 2021 until 2023. His employment was terminated on May 5, 2025.

According to prosecutors, Brady exploited his official capacity to compel NCSO employees to undertake maintenance tasks at his private home. Two employees, identified in court records as Maintenance Officer A and Maintenance Officer B, were reportedly concerned that refusing Brady’s requests could result in adverse employment consequences, including potential changes to their shift schedules, job positions, or even termination.

In October and November 2022, Brady allegedly ordered Officer A to repair his home heating system during paid work hours, including a visit to Brady’s residence on work time to troubleshoot the heater. When issues persisted, both Officers A and B later installed a new heating system at Brady’s home. The arrangement came to light in mid-2023 when a third maintenance officer, identified as Officer C, reported Brady’s conduct to the Massachusetts State Ethics Commission, prompting an investigation that included interviews with Officers A and B.

Prosecutors further detailed that during sentencing proceedings, Brady attempted to undermine the investigation by launching a smear campaign against the officers involved. He sent an anonymous letter to a school attended by a minor relative of Officer C containing false allegations of sexual misconduct. This accusation led to a child welfare investigation, which was subsequently resolved as unfounded.

Brady’s attorney did not respond to requests for comment. The case highlights ongoing concerns about abuse of authority within law enforcement agencies and the measures in place to hold officials accountable.