The Los Angeles County legal system is taking a Los Angeles County Fire Department captain to court over allegations of insurance fraud. According to a CBS News Los Angeles report, Thomas Merryman, age 45, faces charges including one count of felony insurance fraud, one felony count of false personation, and two felony counts of forgery. The District Attorney's Office asserts that Merryman claimed long-term disability benefits for an injury that purportedly did not occur at work.
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman expressed a firm stance on fraudulent claims within the public service sector. "Fake disability claims will not be tolerated under my watch, especially by first responders charged with keeping our county safe," Hochman said. “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," in a statement obtained by the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office.
Merryman, who was officially charged on August 8th, is accused of defrauding the Colonial Life & Accident Insurance Company by a submission of forged paperwork alleged to have been from a physician and another captain in the LACoFD. Prosecutors allege that the fraud amounted to over $25,000. The case has been set for arraignment on September 9 and will be overseen by Deputy District Attorney Arunas Sodonis of the Healthcare Fraud Division.
The charges against Merryman are serious, as they could lead to a maximum sentence of five years in state prison if he is convicted as charged. While the case is still pending, with the presumption of innocence until proven guilty, it highlights a crackdown on fraudulent behavior within the ranks of those expected to embody trust and integrity. CBS News Los Angeles reached out to the Los Angeles County Fire Department for a comment, but had not yet received a response at the time they reported on the allegations.
