March 19, 2026: Two LAPD Officers Charged With Insurance Fraud

LOS ANGELES - Two Los Angeles police officers have been charged with insurance fraud for illegally collecting more than $77,000 in unemployment benefits even though they were on the force.

"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," Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman said. "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."

Peter Mastrocinque (dob 3/20/79) and Nicole Ashley Grant (dob 3/31/85) were each charged in case 26CJCF01618 with one felony count of insurance fraud and one felony count of unemployment insurance fraud.

Arraignment is scheduled for tomorrow in Department 30 of the Foltz Criminal Justice Center.

Between September 2020 and January 2022, Mastrocinque and Grant are accused of filing claims for unemployment benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic, despite working full time as police officers as well as being employed elsewhere.

Mastrocinque allegedly received approximately $42,750 in unemployment benefits from the California Employment Development Department, while Grant is accused of collecting about $34,800.

If convicted as charged, both defendants face up to five years in state prison.

The case is being prosecuted by Jeffrey Stodel of the Justice System Integrity Division and remains under investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department and the Los Angeles County Auditor Controller's Office.

The charges filed in this case are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.