A Los Angeles County Fireplace Division captain is going through felony expenses following allegations that he faked a piece harm and cast medical doctors’ notes to fraudulently declare 1000’s of {dollars} in incapacity funds, authorities mentioned.
Thomas Merryman, 45, allegedly obtained greater than $25,000 in insurance coverage funds for a piece harm that might not have taken place as a result of he was not at work, in response to the L.A. County district legal professional’s workplace.
He allegedly submitted faux paperwork below the title of one other hearth captain and a doctor to Colonial Life & Accident Insurance coverage Firm, permitting him to assert long-term incapacity funds, prosecutors mentioned.
Merryman, who’s at the moment believed to stay in Georgetown, Texas, has been charged with one felony depend of insurance coverage fraud, one felony depend of false personation and two felony counts of forgery, prosecutors mentioned. He’s scheduled to be arraigned in Los Angeles on Sept. 9.
If convicted as charged, he faces as much as 5 years in state jail, authorities mentioned.
The assertion from the district legal professional’s workplace didn’t present any extra data on Merryman’s historical past with the division, or his present employment standing. In keeping with Clear California, an internet database that tracks pay to public officers, a person of the identical title and recognized as a captain with L.A. County hearth, obtained $178,466 in complete pay and $112,687 in advantages in 2024.
“Pretend incapacity claims is not going to be tolerated below my watch, particularly by first responders charged with protecting our county protected,” L.A. County Dist. Atty. Nathan Hochman mentioned in a press release. “False healthcare claims increase insurance coverage premiums and make it harder for folks with reputable work accidents to assert advantages. My message to public servants who abuse the system is obvious: We’re watching you.”
