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Daily Mail
11-07-2025
- Daily Mail
Ex-cop sued after allegedly faking disability while claiming $600K
A California ex-cop who allegedly partied and took Disney trips while collecting hefty disability checks is being sued for the $600,000 she ripped off from the city. Nicole Brown, 39, was charged with 15 felonies in May after authorities found she was faking a disability for an extensive leave from the Westminster Police Department , according to the Orange County District Attorney's Office. On top of the charges, Westminster officials announced they are fighting back against Brown on Wednesday. In March 2022, Brown hurt her forehead while handcuffing a suspect. She called off sick for days and claimed she was diagnosed with severe concussion syndrome from the incident. Her diagnosis meant she was suffering from headaches, dizziness, light and noise sensitivity, and cognitive issues. But prosecutors allegedly found the only injury she sustained was a cut - and the emergency room cleared her to return to work the same day. They said that with the help of her step-father Peter Gregory Schuman, a workers' compensation attorney, she fraudulently collected benefits and made baseless insurance benefit claims. Her disability benefits included her full salary, which was tax-free, and all of her medical expenses, according to the DA's office. Brown's story started unfolding when she was spotted drinking and dancing at the Stagecoach Music Festival in April 2023. More than 750,000 people attended the rowdy event at the Empire Polo Club in Indio. With music blaring and temperatures exceeding 100 degrees, it was likely one of the last places someone with a concussion would find themselves. The police department heard about Brown's eventful weekend and she was called to an interactive Zoom meeting to assess her abilities three days later. 'During the meeting Brown claimed she was unable to look at the screen,' the DA's office wrote. Schuman, who has been charged with two felonies for allegedly aiding Brown's scheme, was also at the meeting to advocate for his step-daughter. He said 'she was unable to do paperwork, and was uncertain that she could do phone calls due to her inability to process words or thoughts.' Pictured: Stock image. Afterwards, Brown was admitted to an in-patient clinic for people with traumatic brain injuries. Her festival appearance was then referred to the DA office and an investigation was launched - allegedly uncovering that Brown's entire leave was actually an extended vacation. Prosecutors said since she left her job, she had ran in two 5K races and went snowboarding in Big Bear and Mammoth. She also allegedly attended three soccer conferences and baseball games. Instead of resting her head, she played golf and went gone to Disneyland. Pictured: Stock image. Brown had even enrolled in online college courses at a local college. Schuman faces two felonies - one count of count of making a fraudulent insurance benefit claim and one count of assisting, abetting, conspiring with and soliciting a person in unlawful act. His license to practice law is still active, according to the State Bar of California. But the legal association has added a warning to his profile: 'This attorney has been charged with a felony.' Pictured: Stock image. Brown was charged with nine counts of making a fraudulent statement to obtain compensation, six counts of making a fraudulent insurance benefit claim, and one enhancement of committing an aggravated while collar crime over $100,000. She faces up to 22 years in prison if she is convicted of all the felony charges. 'Our residents count on us to protect their taxpayer dollars and ensure that employees who are actually injured receive the support they need to recover. Fraud will not be tolerated in Westminster,' Mayor Nguyen said.
Daily Mail
11-07-2025
- Daily Mail
Female cop who said she was disabled is caught out after being spotted at music festival and visiting Disney
A California ex-cop who allegedly partied and took Disney trips while collecting hefty disability checks is being sued for the $600,000 she ripped off from the city. Nicole Brown, 39, was charged with 15 felonies in May after authorities found she was faking a disability for an extensive leave from the Westminster Police Department, according to the Orange County District Attorney's Office. On top of the charges, Westminster officials announced they are fighting back against Brown on Wednesday. They said they are seeking 'repayment of all disability and medical payments, benefits, and other funds unlawfully obtained by Brown.' 'This former police officer has betrayed the public trust,' Mayor Chi Charlie Nguyen said in a statement. 'We owe it to our residents and to the honest, hard-working officers in our police department to seek to recover these funds.' In March 2022, Brown hurt her forehead while handcuffing a suspect. She called off sick for days and claimed she was diagnosed with severe concussion syndrome from the incident. Her diagnosis meant she was suffering from headaches, dizziness, light and noise sensitivity, and cognitive issues. But prosecutors allegedly found the only injury she sustained was a cut - and the emergency room cleared her to return to work the same day. With the help of her step-father Peter Gregory Schuman, a workers' compensation attorney, she fraudulently collected benefits and made baseless insurance benefit claims. Her disability benefits included her full salary, which was tax-free, and all of her medical expenses, according to the DA's office. Brown's story started unfolding when she was spotted drinking and dancing at the Stagecoach Music Festival in April 2023. More than 750,00 attended the rowdy event at the Empire Polo Club in Indio. With music blaring and temperatures exceeding 100 degrees, it was likely one of the last places someone with a concussion would find themselves. The police department heard about Brown's eventful weekend and she was called to an interactive Zoom meeting to assess her abilities. 'During the meeting Brown claimed she was unable to look at the screen,' the DA's office wrote. Schuman, who has been charged with two felonies for allegedly aiding Brown's scheme, was also at the meeting to advocate for his step-daughter. He said 'she was unable to do paperwork, and was uncertain that she could do phone calls due to her inability to process words or thoughts.' Afterwards, Brown was admitted to an in-patient clinic for people with traumatic brain injuries. Her festival appearance was then referred to the DA and an investigation was launched - allegedly uncovering that Brown's entire leave was actually an extended vacation. Prosecutors said since she left her job, she had ran in two 5K races and went snowboarding or skiing in Big Bear and Mammoth. She also allegedly attended three soccer conferences and baseball games. Instead of resting her head, she played golf and went gone to Disneyland. Brown had even enrolled in online college courses at a local college. Schuman faces two felonies - one count of count of making a fraudulent insurance benefit claim and one count of assisting, abetting, conspiring with and soliciting a person in unlawful act. Schuman's license to practice law is still active, but a warning has been added to his legal profile (pictured) His license to practice law is still active, according to the State Bar of California. But the legal association has added a warning to his profile: 'This attorney has been charged with a felony.' Brown was charged with nine counts of making a fraudulent statement to obtain compensation, six counts of making a fraudulent insurance benefit claim, and one enhancement of committing an aggravated while collar crime over $100,000. She faces up to 22 years in prison if she is convicted of all the felony charges. 'Our residents count on us to protect their taxpayer dollars and ensure that employees who are actually injured receive the support they need to recover. Fraud will not be tolerated in Westminster,' Mayor Nguyen said.
Straits Times
23-05-2025
- Straits Times
An officer said she was disabled but prosecutors said she ran, skied and danced
Nicole Brown, who worked for the Westminster Police Department, was charged with 15 felonies related to workers' compensation insurance fraud. PHOTO: WESTMINSTER PDCA/X An officer said she was disabled but prosecutors said she ran, skied and danced CALIFORNIA - Nicole Brown, a police officer in Orange County, California, told her bosses in 2022 that she could no longer perform her duties after she sustained a head injury on the job. But according to prosecutors, whatever had happened to her didn't prevent her from running in road races, skiing or snowboarding, and dancing at a music festival while she illegally collected more than US$600,000 (S$775,000) in workers' compensation. This week, Brown, 39, who worked for the Westminster Police Department, was charged with 15 felonies related to workers' compensation insurance fraud, according to the Orange County District Attorney's Office. Her stepfather, Peter Gregory Schuman, 57, of Buena Park, California, was charged with two felonies charging him with conspiring with Brown. He is a lawyer who specialises in defending employers and insurance companies against workers' compensation claims. Brown was charged with nine felony counts of making a fraudulent statement to obtain compensation; six felony counts of making a fraudulent insurance benefit claim; and one felony enhancement of committing an aggravated white-collar crime worth over $100,000, court records show. Her lawyer, Mr Brian Gurwitz, said on May 22 that Brown's on-duty injury 'continues to cause her severe limitations in her daily life'. 'She intends to defend against these charges vigorously in court,' he said. Schuman was charged with one felony count of making a fraudulent insurance benefit claim and one felony count of assisting, abetting, conspiring with and soliciting a person in unlawful act, records show. It was not immediately clear if he had a lawyer, and he did not immediately respond to a phone message seeking comment. Brown was sworn in as a police officer in early 2019. About three years later, in March 2022, she suffered a 'minor abrasion to her forehead while attempting to arrest and handcuff an uncooperative suspect,' prosecutors said. She complained to her commander that she had a headache and was feeling dizzy, but an emergency room doctor who examined her that day released her and said that she could return to work without restrictions, prosecutors said. After she called out sick for several days, they added, Brown was given a diagnosis of severe concussion syndrome and placed on temporary disability leave. An investigation by the district attorney's office found that three days after the injury, in March 2022, when Brown – who volunteered as a youth soccer coach – had called out sick, she went to an American Youth Soccer Organisation conference in San Diego. Prosectors noted that she had attended multiple sessions that featured PowerPoint presentations. While she was out for the next year, prosecutors said, Brown fraudulently collected the compensation payments from the city. That included her full salary, which was tax-free, and all medical expenses. During her leave, Brown said that it was physically impossible for her to do her work because of headaches, dizziness, sensitivity to light and noise, an inability to work on a screen, and problems processing thoughts and words, according to prosecutors. But several people who knew she was on disability leave spotted her dancing and drinking on April 29, 2023, at the Stagecoach Music Festival, a country music celebration, prosecutors said. The festival, held in the Coachella Valley in the Colorado Desert region of Southern California, attracted about 75,000 people. It was a carnival-type atmosphere with plenty of loud music and bright lights, and temperatures hovering close to or above 100 deg Fahrenheit (37.7 deg C), prosecutors said. Someone reported the fact that she had attended the festival to the Westminster Police Department. It referred the matter to the district attorney's office, which opened the investigation. When Brown took part in a Police Department Zoom meeting three days after the festival to discuss what duties she could perform as a police officer, she said that she was unable to look at the screen, prosecutors said, adding that Schuman was also on the call to speak on her behalf. Schuman said in the meeting that Brown could not to do paperwork and that he was uncertain that she could handle phone calls because of her inability to process words or thoughts, authorities said. Later, Brown was admitted to an inpatient center for individuals who have a traumatic brain injury, they said. The inquiry into Brown also found that while out on disability, she ran in two 5km races and went snowboarding or skiing in Big Bear and Mammoth, two popular Southern California ski resorts, prosecutors said. She also is accused of going to more youth soccer conferences, attending baseball games, playing golf, visiting Disneyland and taking online courses, according to the investigation. Brown could face up to 22 years in prison and a loss of some of her pension if convicted of all charges. Schuman could face up to eight years in state prison and could be disciplined by the State Bar of California if convicted. NYTIMES Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Yahoo
Calif. Police Officer Allegedly Caught Partying at Stagecoach and at Disneyland While Collecting $600k in Workers' Compensation
Former Westminster Police Department officer Nicole Brown is facing 15 felony charges for alleged workers' compensation insurance fraud Brown was injured while on the job in 2022 and took disability amounting to $600,000, according to the Office of the District Attorney of Orange County While on disability, Brown allegedly attended the Stagecoach Music Festival in addition to other activities like visiting Disneyland, skiing, running 5Ks and moreA California police officer is facing 15 felony charges and up to 22 years in prison after being accused of alleged workers' compensation insurance fraud and stealing more than $600k from taxpayers. Nicole Brown, formerly of the Westminster Police Department, suffered a head injury in 2022 while attempting to handcuff a suspect and was later placed on disability. According to a May 20 press release from the Office of the District Attorney of Orange County, Brown, 39, 'complained to her watch commander that she had a headache and was feeling dizzy, but an emergency room doctor who examined her that same day released her back to work without restrictions.' Several days after the incident, Brown called in sick to work multiple days in a row and was later diagnosed with severe concussion syndrome and was placed on Total Temporary Disability, according to the release. Officers who receive a job-related injury are entitled to their full salary for up to a year in addition to any medical fees. The district attorney's office claims that Brown cost Westminster more than $600,000 in tax payer money during her time on disability. While on her disability, Brown complained of 'headaches, dizziness, sensitivity to light and noise, problems processing thoughts and words and an inability to work on the computer or do any screentime,' the release claims. However, an investigation alleged that while on disability, Brown was witnessed drinking and partying at the Stagecoach Music Festival in April 2023, despite the loud, crowded environment with temperatures over 100 degrees. She was also alleged to have gone to Disneyland, attended three AYSO soccer conferences, went snowboarding or skiing in Big Bear and Mammoth, ran two 5k races, played golf, took online courses with a university and attended baseball games. Brown's stepfather Peter Schuman, who is a licensed attorney in California, has also been charged after being accused of aiding her in committing fraud by advocating on her behalf during a meeting to discuss what police duties she could perform. The meeting took place three days after the Stagecoach Music Festival. During the meeting, Brown allegedly 'claimed she was unable to look at the screen' and was 'sitting in a dark room' with Schuman speaking on her behalf, the release adds. Schuman, 57, has been charged with one felony count of making a fraudulent insurance benefit claim and one felony count of assisting, abetting, conspiring with and soliciting a person in unlawful act. Schuman is facing a maximum sentence of eight years in prison and could 'suffer discipline by the State Bar of California,' according to the district attorney. Brown has been charged with nine felony counts of making a fraudulent statement to obtain compensation, six felony counts of making a fraudulent insurance benefit claim and one felony enhancement of committing an aggravated white collar crime over $100,000. If convicted on all counts, Brown could face up to 22 years in prison. PEOPLE has reached out to the Office of the District Attorney for updates on the case. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. Prior to her leave, Brown served as a Homeless Liaison Officer in Westminster. 'I just don't think that anyone is hopeless,' Brown told the site Behind the Badge in 2020. 'This is not the prettiest job, dealing with the homeless. You might get someone off the streets and they might go back to the streets and it's that cycle. But to actually be able to make an impact on someone's life for the better is why I wanted this position.' At the time, Brown's partner Roland Perez said of her, 'She has compassion. She is all about notes. Everything is organized. She keeps me focused.' Read the original article on People
International Business Times
22-05-2025
- International Business Times
Southern California Cop Who Faked Injury to Claim $600K in Compensation Caught Partying, Dancing at Music Festival
A Southern California police officer was caught partying at the Stagecoach Music Festival while collecting more than $600,000 in workers' compensation for a head injury that prosecutors allege was faked. As reported by the Associated Press, Westminster police officer Nicole Brown, 39, was charged Monday with 15 felonies of workers' compensation and insurance fraud, the Orange County District Attorney's office said. She faces up to 22 years in prison if convicted. Brown Suffered Minor Injury While Trying to Arrest a Suspect, Became Eligible to Receive Disabled Workers' Compensation Brown was duty on March 21, 2022, when she received a "minor abrasion" to her forehead while trying to arrest an uncooperative suspect, according to prosecutors. She told her watch commander that she had a headache and was feeling dizzy. Though an emergency room doctor who examined her that day released her back to work without restrictions, she called out sick for several days and was diagnosed with a severe concussion about a week after the initial injury. She was placed on Total Temporary Disability, which made her eligible to receive her full salary for up to a year and two-thirds of her salary after that. While Brown Claimed She was Sick, She was at a Soccer Conference, She Claimed Disability Benefits While Participating in Races, Skiing, Playing Golf Later, investigators would find out that during the three days she called out sick after her injury, Brown went to several soccer conferences in San Diego. In the following year while collecting disability, she also ran in two 5K races, went snowboarding or skiing in Big Bear and Mammoth, attended baseball games, played golf, went to Disneyland and took online courses with a local university, prosecutors allege. "Mrs. Brown suffered a significant head injury when she was on duty," her attorney Brian Gurwitz said, "and she intends to vigorously fight these allegations." According to prosecutors, some of Brown's ongoing symptoms that she reported during this time were: headaches, dizziness, sensitivity to light and noise, and inability to look at a screen. Brown Came Under Investigation After She was Spotted 'Dancing and Drinking' at Music Festival The district attorney's office began their investigation into potential fraud after she was seen by several people "dancing and drinking" in April 2023 at the Stagecoach Music Festival, an annual country music festival held in the Coachella Valley with "loud music and bright lights everywhere." This was reported to the Westminster Police Department. Three days after the festival, Brown and her stepfather attended a Zoom meeting where she sat in a dark room and said she was unable to look at the screen. Her stepfather said she still could not do paperwork or take phone calls. After the meeting, she was admitted to an inpatient center for traumatic brain injury. Prosecutors say Brown collected more than $600,000 from the city of Westminster, which includes her full salary and medical expenses. Her stepfather Peter Schuman, 57, of Buena Park, has also been charged with two felonies related to insurance fraud and helping commit a crime. He is a licensed attorney in California and faces discipline from the state bar, prosecutors said. Schuman does not have an attorney listed and could not be reached for comment.
