Monday, June 16, 2025
Former state trooper Thomas Mascia accepted a plea deal for criminal charges when appearing in court on Wednesday. He pleaded guilty to charges of tampering with physical evidence, falsely reporting and official misconduct.
Mascia, 27, faces six months in jail, five years of probation, court ordered mental health treatment, and must pay restitution of $289,511.32.
There is also a full order of protection that was issued against Mascia from an unnamed ex-girlfriend. Mascia also waved his right to appeal the charges.
He will surrender for sentencing on Aug. 20.
In court, Mascia confirmed on Oct. 30, 2024, while on patrol, he falsely planted physical evidence of bullet casings near Exit 17 of the Southern State Parkway. He then knowingly reported a false crime over his radio, claiming shots had been fired.
Mascia agreed that there was no black four-door Dodge Charger pulled up on a median and no one else shot at him.
Mascia brought bullet casing belonging to his personal .22 caliber riffle from his home to place at the scene. He confirmed that he intentionally shot himself in the leg at Hempstead State Park after researching where in the leg to shoot himself. Mascia then returned to his home in West Hempstead to place his gun in his personal vehicle, before returning to the manufactured scene and called in shots fired.
Mascia agreed that he planned this act before it occurred. He knew he was lying and continued with his falsehoods.
Mascia's lawyer, Jeffrey Lichtman, said Mascia is "happy he's putting this behind him and that he's going to get the help that he needs. "
"This is a painful day for him, but it's a necessity," said Lichtman.
"He had researched the best place to have a bullet hit your leg and not bleed out," District Attorney Anne Donnelly said. "It's amazing to me that someone who took an oath to protect and serve just admitted to being deceitful and a liar."
"One of the most disturbing parts about this case is he set in motion a man-hunt, and if someone had been stopped and fit the description, who knows what would have happened," she added.
Donnelly speculated that Mascia acted with the intention to appeal to a nurse ex-girlfriend who now has the order of protection against Mascia.
Mascia was expected to accept the guilty plea on May 7, but responded to questions and filled out forms necessary to enter a plea agreement incorrectly.
Mascia’s parents, Thomas and Dorothy, faced charges for criminal possession of a firearm, which was discovered during a state investigation into the property they share with the younger Mascia, to recover his personal weapons, along with any other guns. During this search nearly $800,000 in cash was seized from Mascia’s home, which was linked to his parents and legally obtained.
Mascia Sr. is a former NYPD officer who pleaded guilty on a charge of conspiracy to distribute cocaine in 1993. As a convicted felon, Mascia Sr. is not allowed to possess a firearm.
Mascia Sr. pleaded guilty to criminal possession of a firearm. By accepting the plea, he will spend five years on probation and waive his right to appeal the decision.
Dorothy accepted a plea agreement for criminal possession of a weapon and faces one year of conditional discharge.
His parents will also be sentenced on Aug. 20.
