A Los Angeles County Fireplace Division captain is dealing with felony costs following allegations that he faked a piece damage and solid 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 damage that might not have taken place as a result of he was not at work, based on the L.A. County district legal professional’s workplace.
He allegedly submitted pretend paperwork below the identify of one other hearth captain and a doctor to Colonial Life & Accident Insurance coverage Firm, permitting him to say long-term incapacity funds, prosecutors mentioned.
Merryman, who’s at present believed to dwell 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 info on Merryman’s historical past with the division, or his present employment standing. In accordance with Clear California, a web-based database that tracks pay to public officers, a person of the identical identify and recognized as a captain with L.A. County hearth, obtained $178,466 in whole pay and $112,687 in advantages in 2024.
“Faux incapacity claims is not going to be tolerated below my watch, particularly by first responders charged with preserving our county secure,” L.A. County Dist. Atty. Nathan Hochman mentioned in a press release. “False healthcare claims elevate insurance coverage premiums and make it harder for individuals with reliable work accidents to say advantages. My message to public servants who abuse the system is evident: We’re watching you.”
