Latest news with #Mascia
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Yahoo
Former NY trooper Thomas Mascia pleads guilty to faking his own shooting
A former New York State trooper accused of faking his own shooting and sparking a massive manhunt for a made-up suspect pleaded guilty on Wednesday to multiple charges, including official misconduct and tampering with evidence. As part of the plea deal, 27-year-old Thomas Mascia is expected to be sentenced to a six-month jail term followed by five years probation, during which he'll have to undergo mental health treatment. The disgraced trooper will also have to pay nearly $290,000 in restitution for overtime pay for officers who spent three days searching for the fabricated suspect. Prosecutors say that on the night of Oct. 30, 2024, the West Hempstead resident told authorities that a gunman shot him while he was checking on a disabled vehicle on Long Island's Southern State Parkway. The alleged shooter — who he described as a 'black-skinned' driver of a Dodge Charger with temporary New Jersey license plates — opened fire as Mascia stopped to offer help, he claimed. Mascia, who was hailed as a hero, was transported to a local hospital with a gunshot wound to his right leg as state officials launched a multi-state search to locate the Charger. But just days after the alleged shooting, state investigators announced they were looking into 'certain inconsistencies' in Mascia's story. 'The evidence uncovered and the absence of evidence told us everything we needed to know,' Nassau District Attorney Anne Donnelly said after an investigation. 'His harrowing story was nothing more than an elaborate work of fiction.' Prosecutors said he shot himself in a nearby park and then drove to the highway before calling for backup, as part of an elaborate scheme to gain sympathy. Mascia was arrested in January on charges of tampering with physical evidence, falsely reporting an incident and official misconduct. He resigned from state police on Jan. 24. After initially pleading not guilty, Mascia was expected to accept a plea deal earlier this month, but that hearing was adjourned when he told Nassau County Court Judge Robert Bogle he didn't feel well mentally. On Wednesday, Mascia formally accepted his plea. 'You knew this was a lie and chose to do it anyway?' Mascia was asked by Jared Rosenblatt, of the district attorney's office, during the proceedings. 'Yes,' he replied. Mascia will now 'face the consequences for his fabrications and for tarnishing the oath he took to serve and protect New Yorkers,' DA Donnelly said in a statement Wednesday, commenting on the former trooper's 'pathetic stunt.' Mascia's parents, who were charged with weapon offenses after a semiautomatic rifle with illegal modifications was found in their bedroom during a November search, also pleaded guilty on Wednesday. All three defendants are scheduled to be sentenced Aug. 20. With News Wire Services
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Yahoo
N.Y. manhunt aftermath: Ex-state trooper pleads guilty to shooting himself, faking crime scene
May 21 (UPI) -- An ex-New York state police officer on Wednesday pleaded guilty to shooting himself in the leg as part of a fake crime scene in what prosecutors said was a plan to gain sympathy. Former trooper Thomas Mascia, 27, admitted in court that he staged the supposed crime scene on October 30 after he claimed to have been injured by an unknown shooter near exit 17 of New York's Southern State Parkway while checking on a disabled vehicle. The West Hempstead resident pleaded guilty to tampering with physical evidence, falsely reporting a police incident and for official misconduct. He is expected to serve six months in prison, five years of probation and must undergo continued mental health treatment and pay more than $289,500 in restitution. Mascia admitted that he spread shells at the alleged scene, then drove in his state vehicle to nearby Hempstead Lake State Park, where he then shot himself with the same caliber rifle loaded with the same shells left on the highway. It is there where he returned and called in the staged incident. "You weren't shot by someone else?" asked the assistant Nassau County district attorney, to which Mascia replied: "Yes." His actions had set off a statewide manhunt for the suspected vehicle Mascia described until investigators discovered the gunshot was self-inflicted. Mascia attorney Jeffrey Lichtman stated Mascia also lied about getting hit by a car during an alleged 2022 hit-and-run incident upstate, adding that state police officials missed the signs of mental distress which, according to Lichtman, was what led to October's staged event. The former state trooper saw a delayed plea deal earlier this month after Mascia inadvertently expressed that he was not in good mental health. On Wednesday, he said "yes" after the judge inquired if he was in a good mental state. Additionally, Mascia's parents were charged with criminal possession of a firearm. Thomas Mascia Sr., a former NYPD officer until his conviction in the 1990s for his role in a cocaine ring, was charged after a search of the home related to the incident uncovered an illegal assault-style weapon along with about $80,000 in cash. Meanwhile, Mascia is expected to be sentenced on August 20.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Yahoo
Former NY trooper Thomas Mascia pleads guilty to faking his own shooting
A former New York State trooper accused of faking his own shooting and sparking a massive manhunt for a made-up suspect will spend six months behind bars after pleading guilty to multiple charges, including official misconduct and tampering with evidence. As part of the plea deal, 27-year-old Thomas Mascia agreed to the six-month jail term followed by five years probation, during which he'll have to undergo mental health treatment. The disgraced trooper will also have to pay $289,500 in restitution for overtime pay for officers who spent three days searching for the fabricated suspect. Prosecutors say that on the night of Oct. 30, 2024, the West Hempstead resident told authorities that a gunman shot him while he was checking on a disabled vehicle on Long Island's Southern State Parkway. The alleged shooter — who he described as a 'black-skinned' driver of a Dodge Charger with temporary New Jersey license plates — opened fire as Mascia stopped to offer help, he claimed. Mascia, who was hailed as a hero, was transported to a local hospital with a gunshot wound to his right leg as state officials launched a multi-state search to locate the Charger. But just days after the alleged shooting, state investigators announced they were looking into 'certain inconsistencies' in Mascia's story. 'The evidence uncovered and the absence of evidence told us everything we needed to know,' Nassau District Attorney Anne Donnelly said after an investigation. 'His harrowing story was nothing more than an elaborate work of fiction.' Prosecutors said he shot himself in a nearby park and then drove to the highway before calling for backup, as part of an elaborate scheme to gain sympathy. Mascia was arrested in January on charges of tampering with physical evidence, falsely reporting an incident and official misconduct. He resigned from state police on Jan. 24. After initially pleading not guilty, Mascia was expected to accept a plea deal earlier this month, but that hearing was adjourned when he told Nassau County Court Judge Robert Bogle he didn't feel well mentally. On Wednesday, Mascia formally accepted his plea. 'You knew this was a lie and chose to do it anyway?' Mascia was asked by Jared Rosenblatt, of the district attorney's office, during the proceedings. 'Yes,' he replied. Mascia will now 'face the consequences for his fabrications and for tarnishing the oath he took to serve and protect New Yorkers,' DA Donnelly said in a statement Wednesday, commenting on the former trooper's 'pathetic stunt.' Mascia's parents, who were charged with weapon offenses after a semiautomatic rifle with illegal modifications was found in their bedroom during a November search, also pleaded guilty on Wednesday. All three defendants are scheduled to be sentenced Aug. 20. With News Wire Services
UPI
21-05-2025
- UPI
N.Y. manhunt aftermath: Ex-state trooper pleads guilty to shooting himself, faking crime scene
May 21 (UPI) -- An ex-New York state police officer on Wednesday pleaded guilty to shooting himself in the leg as part of a fake crime scene in what prosecutors said was a plan to gain sympathy. Former trooper Thomas Mascia, 27, admitted in court that he staged the supposed crime scene on October 30 after he claimed to have been injured by an unknown shooter near exit 17 of New York's Southern State Parkway while checking on a disabled vehicle. The West Hempstead resident pleaded guilty to tampering with physical evidence, falsely reporting a police incident and for official misconduct. He is expected to serve six months in prison, five years of probation and must undergo continued mental health treatment and pay more than $289,500 in restitution. Mascia admitted that he spread shells at the alleged scene, then drove in his state vehicle to nearby Hempstead Lake State Park, where he then shot himself with the same caliber rifle loaded with the same shells left on the highway. It is there where he returned and called in the staged incident. "You weren't shot by someone else?" asked the assistant Nassau County district attorney, to which Mascia replied: "Yes." His actions had set off a statewide manhunt for the suspected vehicle Mascia described until investigators discovered the gunshot was self-inflicted. Mascia attorney Jeffrey Lichtman stated Mascia also lied about getting hit by a car during an alleged 2022 hit-and-run incident upstate, adding that state police officials missed the signs of mental distress which, according to Lichtman, was what led to October's staged event. The former state trooper saw a delayed plea deal earlier this month after Mascia inadvertently expressed that he was not in good mental health. On Wednesday, he said "yes" after the judge inquired if he was in a good mental state. Additionally, Mascia's parents were charged with criminal possession of a firearm. Thomas Mascia Sr., a former NYPD officer until his conviction in the 1990s for his role in a cocaine ring, was charged after a search of the home related to the incident uncovered an illegal assault-style weapon along with about $80,000 in cash. Meanwhile, Mascia is expected to be sentenced on August 20.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Yahoo
State Trooper prepares for plea deal, admitting he shot himself
NEW YORK (PIX11) — From hero State Trooper to disgraced State Trooper, that was the scene that played out in Nassau County Court where Thomas Mascia was prepared to admit that he actually shot himself, and not by an unknown shooter as he originally reported. 'We are not here today to celebrate,' said Attorney Jeffrey Lichtman. 'We are here today because he's suffering significant mental illness.' More Local News The 27-year-old former officer showed up in court with his mother and father, prepared to accept a plea deal, admitting that he has been suffering from mental issues for years. It was last October when Mascia claimed he was shot in the leg by a motorist he went to help on the Southern State Parkway. That triggered a multi-state manhunt for the assailant. Mascia received a hero's reception when he was released from the hospital. Holes were quickly punched in his story until it was determined there was no assailant. In court, the judge asked Mascia if he was in good mental health to take a guilty plea. Initially, he said no, which quickly changed to yes after conferring with his lawyer. Out of caution, the judge pushed the plea deal to another date. 'I'm not telling him to lie,' said Lichtman. 'I want him to tell the truth, and if he says he's not feeling well mentally, it doesn't mean for a second that he is unable to take a guilty plea.' More: Latest News from Around the Tri-State Mascia would not speak to reporters as he left the court. He is charged with tampering with physical evidence, falsely reporting an incident, and official misconduct. His parents were also prepared to plead guilty to a charge of illegal gun possession found in their home. The family said they wore green in support of Mental Health Awareness Month. Mascia's lawyer said his client had hoped to get this over with today. 'I wouldn't say he was disappointed, but numb and shocked from this whole thing to go through. He was a decorated officer. Now, he's sitting in the blink of an eye as a criminal defendant with the press chasing him down the street.' Mascia will be back in court on May 21 when his guilty plea will get him six months in jail and five years' probation. In addition, he'll have to pay more than $289,5000 in restitution for the expenses police encountered trying to find an assailant who never existed. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
