Cop on disability caught dancing and skiing charged with worker's compensation fraud

SANTA ANA, Calif. — A former Westminster police officer has been charged with 15 felony counts after allegedly defrauding the workers’ compensation system out of more than $600,000 while claiming a debilitating head injury prevented her from working—despite being seen dancing at a major music festival and engaging in multiple recreational activities.

Nicole Brown, 39, of Riverside, is accused of falsely claiming she was unable to perform her duties following a reported head injury on March 21, 2022. According to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, Brown said she suffered severe concussion symptoms after hitting her head while handcuffing a suspect. Although a doctor cleared her to return to work the same day, Brown was later placed on Total Temporary Disability (TTD).

While receiving tax-free salary payments and medical coverage under the workers’ compensation program, Brown attended the Stagecoach Music Festival, went skiing and snowboarding, ran in 5K races, visited Disneyland, and took university-level online courses. Authorities say these activities directly contradicted her repeated claims of being unable to tolerate light, noise, or screen time due to her injury.

On April 29, 2023, Brown was seen dancing and drinking at the Stagecoach festival in 100-degree heat and among loud crowds, despite reporting severe light and sound sensitivity. Her actions were reported to the Westminster Police Department, which referred the case to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office for investigation.

Attorney stepfather also charged in fraud scheme

Brown’s stepfather, 57-year-old Peter Gregory Schuman of Buena Park, a licensed workers’ compensation defense attorney, has also been charged with one count of making a fraudulent insurance benefit claim and one count of conspiracy. Prosecutors allege Schuman helped coordinate the fraudulent claims and advocated on his stepdaughter’s behalf during official meetings while misrepresenting her abilities.

Three days after attending Stagecoach, Brown participated in a disability-related meeting via Zoom. She appeared on camera in a dark room, claimed she could not look at the screen, and had Schuman speak on her behalf, saying she was unable to do any paperwork or phone duties.

Investigators later discovered that three days after reporting her initial injury, Brown had already attended a youth soccer conference in San Diego with full presentations and visual materials. She went on to attend multiple similar events, play golf, and go to baseball games, all while drawing TTD benefits.

If convicted, Brown faces a maximum sentence of 22 years in state prison. Schuman faces up to eight years. Brown also stands to lose her accrued public pension benefits dating back to the commission of the alleged felonies.

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