Ex-NY State Trooper Sentenced Six Months Jail for Staging Shooting Hoax

Thomas Mascia, a former New York state trooper, was sentenced to six months in jail followed by five years of probation for staging a fake shooting incident in which he shot himself and falsely claimed to have been shot by another driver on the Southern State Parkway. Mascia's fabricated story led to a large multi-state manhunt and wasted significant law enforcement resources, costing taxpayers nearly $290,000 in restitution. Prosecutors detailed that Mascia scattered shell casings to create a fake crime scene, then shot himself, stashed the rifle, and called for backup. His actions deeply betrayed public trust and resulted in his resignation earlier this year. Mascia has been ordered to undergo mental health treatment, with his defense citing an undiagnosed mental health issue at the time of the incident. Additionally, his parents pled guilty to possessing an illegal firearm found during a home search, with his father receiving probation and his mother a conditional discharge.