Two Los Angeles Police Department officers are scheduled to be arraigned Friday on two felony charges each involving alleged insurance fraud during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced Friday.
Peter Mastrocinque, who will turn 47 Friday, and Nicole Grant, 40, are charged with one count each of insurance fraud and unemployment insurance fraud.
The two were arrested last Friday by personnel from the LAPD’s Special Operations Division’s Major Complaint Unit, which is responsible for investigating criminal misconduct by department employees, police said.
Both officers surrendered, were booked and later released, police said.
The Major Complaint Unit’s investigation followed a 2023 review by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office of suspected unemployment Insurance fraud involving applications submitted during the COVID-19 pandemic, police said.
The two are accused of filing claims for unemployment benefits during the pandemic despite working full-time as police officers as well as being employed elsewhere, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
Mastrocinque allegedly received about $42,750 in unemployment benefits from the California Employment Development Department, while Grant allegedly got about $34,800, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
Both officers were assigned to the LAPD’s Newton Division and have been placed on administrative leave, police said.
“At the height of the pandemic, when so many people needed assistance, there were some accused of exploiting the system that was meant to help those in real need,” District Attorney Nathan Hochman said in a statement about the case. “We hold our law enforcement officers to a higher degree of trust because they are sworn to serve and protect us. Collecting unemployment while working full-time is selfish, greedy and most of all, unlawful, and this kind of conduct will be fully prosecuted.”
Mastrocinque and Grant could each face up to five years in state prison if convicted as charged, according to the District Attorney’s Office.