A former New York State Trooper who falsely claimed he was shot by a passing motorist on Long Island has been sentenced to six months in jail.
Thomas Mascia received his sentence this week in Nassau County Court in Mineola. In addition to jail time, he was given five years of probation, ordered to undergo mental health treatment, and must pay nearly $290,000 in restitution.
Mascia pleaded guilty in May to charges including falsely reporting an incident, tampering with physical evidence, and official misconduct. He resigned from the State Police in January after being suspended without pay during the investigation.
Prosecutors say Mascia fabricated the story on October 30, 2024, claiming he was shot in the leg by a passing driver on the Southern State Parkway near his home. He described the supposed gunman as a “dark-skinned” man who fled toward New York City.
Investigators later determined Mascia had staged the scene by scattering shell casings, then shot himself at a nearby park before calling for help. Prosecutors said his actions wasted hundreds of hours of police work and cost taxpayers nearly $300,000.
Mascia’s attorney said his client was suffering from an undiagnosed mental health problem at the time of the shooting and has been undergoing treatment.
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