Latest news with #ThomasMerryman
Los Angeles Times
09-08-2025
- Los Angeles Times
L.A. County fire captain faked work injury to collect insurance, prosecutors allege
A Los Angeles County Fire Department captain is facing felony charges following allegations that he faked a work injury and forged doctors' notes to fraudulently claim thousands of dollars in disability payments, authorities said. Thomas Merryman, 45, allegedly received more than $25,000 in insurance payments for a work injury that could not have taken place because he was not at work, according to the L.A. County district attorney's office. He allegedly submitted fake paperwork under the name of another fire captain and a physician to Colonial Life & Accident Insurance Company, allowing him to claim long-term disability payments, prosecutors said. Merryman, who is currently believed to live in Georgetown, Texas, has been charged with one felony count of insurance fraud, one felony count of false personation and two felony counts of forgery, prosecutors said. He is scheduled to be arraigned in Los Angeles on Sept. 9. If convicted as charged, he faces up to five years in state prison, authorities said. The statement from the district attorney's office did not provide any additional information on Merryman's history with the department, or his current employment status. According to Transparent California, an online database that tracks pay to public officials, a man of the same name and identified as a captain with L.A. County fire, received $178,466 in total pay and $112,687 in benefits in 2024. 'Fake disability claims will not be tolerated under my watch, especially by first responders charged with keeping our county safe,' L.A. County Dist. Atty. Nathan Hochman said in a statement. 'False healthcare claims raise insurance premiums and make it more difficult for people with legitimate work injuries to claim benefits. My message to public servants who abuse the system is clear: We are watching you.'
CBS News
09-08-2025
- CBS News
LA County Fire captain charged with making false disability claim
A Los Angeles County Fire Department captain was charged with making a false disability claim to insurance for an injury that allegedly did not happen while he was at work, prosecutors said on Friday. Thomas Merryman, 45, was charged with one count of felony insurance fraud, one felony count of false personation and two felony counts of forgery, according to a news release from the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office. Merryman is accused of fraudulently claiming long-term disability benefits by submitting forged paperwork from a physician and another LACoFD captain to the Colonial Life & Accident Insurance Company, according to the DA's Office. They say that he defrauded the company of more than $25,000. "Fake disability claims will not be tolerated under my watch, especially by first responders charged with keeping our county safe," said a statement from District Attorney Nathan Hochman. "False healthcare claims raise insurance premiums and make it more difficult for people with legitimate work injuries to claim benefits. My message to public servants who abuse the system is clear: We are watching you. Prosecutors and investigators in my office are working closely with the Los Angeles County Fire Department and other agencies to root out fraud." If convicted as charged, Merryman faces up to five years in state prison. He is scheduled for arraignment on Sept. 9 in downtown Los Angeles. CBS News Los Angeles has reached out to Los Angeles County Fire Department officials for comment on the matter but have not yet heard back.
