Two Los Angeles police officers were charged with insurance fraud after collecting tens of thousands of dollars in unemployment benefits while they were working full time, authorities announced Thursday.
The LA County District Attorney’s office said officers Peter Mastrocinque and Nicole Ashley falsely filed claims for unemployment benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic and worked full time as police officers. The alleged crime happened between September 2020 and January 2022, the DA’s office sad.
“We hold our law enforcement officers to a higher degree of trust because they are sworn to serve and protect us,” District Attorney Nathan Hochman said. “Collecting unemployment while working full time is selfish, greedy and most of all, unlawful, and this kind of conduct will be fully prosecuted.”
Mastrocinque allegedly received approximately $42,750 in unemployment benefits from the California Employment Development Department. Grant is accused of collecting about $34,800.
The officers face one felony count of insurance fraud and one felony count of unemployment insurance fraud.
If convicted as charged, the two officers face up to five years in state prison.
It was not immediately clear whether the officers are still employed with the LAPD.