Former New York state trooper Thomas Mascia was sentenced to six months in jail on Wednesday for a hoax that wasted police resources and cost taxpayers a lot of money.
Mascia, who had served as a trooper since 2019, shot himself in the leg in late October and then told police he had been gunned down by an unknown driver. The fraud led to a day‑long manhunt for a non‑existent suspect.
What happened
On Oct. 30, 2025, Mascia fired a .22‑caliber rifle at Hempstead Lake State Park and then drove to a stretch of the Southern State Parkway. He claimed a “dark‑skinned” driver in a black sedan had shot him, and that the driver was heading toward New York City. There was no video footage – his body camera was off. Prosecutors later found shell casings left at the scene that had no connection to a mystery driver, and police learned Mascia had planted evidence to make the story look real.
Mascia had already resigned in January after the county police department suspended him without pay while a criminal investigation was underway. In May, he pleaded guilty to false reporting, tampering with evidence, and official misconduct.
The courtroom
At a Mineola court, Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly called Mascia’s lie a “disgraceful” misuse of law‑enforcement time and money. The judge gave him six months of jail time, followed by five years of probation. Mascia must attend mental‑health treatment and pay nearly $290,000 in restitution to Nassau County.
“His lies wasted hundreds of hours of law‑enforcement manpower, deeply cost taxpayers in Nassau County, and betrayed the public’s trust in those in uniform,” Donnelly said after sentencing.
Mascia also faces a parent‑related fallout. The gun found in his family’s West Hempstead bedroom led to charges against his parents, Dorothy and Thomas Mascia. The father received a five‑year probation sentence, while the mother received a one‑year conditional discharge.
Why this matters
The incident shows what happens when a police officer misuses the authority they are given. The false report triggered an extensive manhunt and forced local officials to divert resources that could have been used elsewhere. The case also highlights the importance of mental‑health support for colleagues who might be struggling after a traumatic event.
Mascia has described himself as “mortified” by his actions, and his lawyer said the former trooper is now willing to move on after nearly a year of treatment and legal bills.
For residents, the story serves as a reminder that police statements are taken seriously, and that a single officer’s dishonesty can ripple out and affect countless people and taxpayers.
Source: Fox News
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