A former California police officer faces 15 felony charges after allegedly faking a serious injury and collecting more than $600,000 in tax-free disability pay, according to Orange County prosecutors.
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Nicole Brown, 39, claimed a head injury during a 2022 arrest left her with post-concussion syndrome. But instead of recovering quietly, she went on ski trips, ran races, and partied at music festivals, prosecutors said.
While on leave, Brown took vacations to Disneyland and traveled to Big Bear and Mammoth to ski or snowboard. She ran two 5K races, attended baseball games, and went to multiple youth soccer conferences.
"The former officer's stepfather, a licensed attorney who practices workers' compensation defense on behalf of insurance companies, has also been charged with two felonies for conspiring with his stepdaughter to orchestrate the fraudulent workers' compensation scheme," prosecutors said in a prepared statement.
Officer Attends Festival
Three days after attending the Stagecoach music festival, Brown joined a Zoom call with Westminster, California, police officials. She sat in a dark room and said she couldn't look at the screen because of her alleged symptoms.
Prosecutors say that was a lie.
During her leave, Brown also enrolled in an online master's program in organizational leadership. The program required regular screen time, contradicting her claim that screens caused discomfort.
Authorities say she collected roughly $600,000 in tax-free salary and medical coverage through workers' compensation.
If convicted, she faces up to 22 years in state prison.
Stepfather Also Charged
Prosecutors say the former police officer didn't act alone. Her stepfather, Peter Gregory Schuman, 57, is a workers' compensation attorney. He allegedly helped orchestrate the fraud.
Schuman spoke for Brown in meetings with the police department. He also arranged for her to enter a brain injury treatment center.
Prosecutors charged him with two felonies. He faces up to eight years in prison and could lose his law license.
"Workers' comp fraud drains resources from those who truly need help," said Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer. "We won't tolerate abuse of the system."
Brown and Schuman are expected to appear in court in the coming weeks.
