Ex-Norfolk Sheriff’s Office official pleads to ordering employees to perform maintenance at his home

The former assistant superintendent at the Norfolk County Sheriff’s Office pleaded guilty on June 5 to using his official position to order employees to perform maintenance at his residence, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced.

Thomas Brady, 54, of Norwood, also pleaded guilty to one count of witness tampering. U.S. District Court Judge Julia E. Kobick scheduled sentencing for Sept. 28.

From 2021 through May 2023, Brady was the assistant deputy superintendent for jail operations at the Norfolk Sheriff’s Office. Brady was promoted in May 2023 to assistant superintendent, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.

In October and November 2022, Brady utilized his official position and authority to order a subordinate maintenance officer (Maintenance Officer A) to perform home repairs at his residence during and after work hours. Because of Brady’s position, Maintenance Officer A feared that if he refused Brady’s request, Brady would use his official position and authority to negatively affect Maintenance Officer A’s position.

Maintenance Officer A complied with the order. After Brady had subsequent problems with his heating system, he contacted Maintenance Officer A to replace the circulator pump. On or about Oct. 15, 2022, Maintenance Officer B agreed to assist Maintenance Officer A with the work.

On two occasions between Nov. 1, 2022 and Nov. 2, 2022, Maintenance Officer A returned to Brady’s residence, with Maintenance Officer B assisting, and they drained the hot water system, removed the old circulator pump, and installed the new circulator pump.

On or about June 16, 2023, another maintenance officer, Maintenance Officer C, reported Brady to the State Ethics Commission for having subordinate employees perform work at his residence. The Ethics Commission began an investigation into Brady, interviewing Maintenance Officer A and Maintenance Officer B.

At some point prior to Oct. 5, 2023, Brady learned about the investigation and Maintenance Officer B’s involvement. On or about Oct. 5, 2023, Brady mailed a letter to the Ethics Commission, falsely signing the letter from Maintenance Officer C. The letter to the SEC was handwritten and divulged information about a confidential, internal Norfolk Sheriff’s Office investigation into Maintenance Officer B. Brady listed himself as a witness to the investigation in the letter.

Federal investigators examined the postage stamp on the envelope to the Ethics Commission and confirmed that a fingerprint found underneath the stamp belonged to Brady, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said. In addition, the flap and corresponding region of the envelope were examined, and it was confirmed that male DNA obtained from envelope belonged to the Brady.