Mineola, New York – MINEOLA, N.Y. (AP) — A former New York state trooper shot himself He falsely claimed that he was injured An unidentified gunman on a Long Island highway, sparking a search across the area, was sentenced to six months in prison Wednesday.
Thomas Masia was also placed on probation for five years and ordered to undergo mental health treatment and pay nearly $290,000 in restitution in Nassau County District Court in Mineola.
Walking He pleaded guilty in May For falsely reporting an incident, tampering with physical evidence and official misconduct. He resigned in January after… Suspended without pay While the state police fired A Criminal investigation In shooting.
Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly called the former officer’s actions “disgraceful.”
“His lies wasted hundreds of hours of law enforcement manpower, cost Nassau County taxpayers dearly, and betrayed the public’s trust in those in uniform,” she said in a statement after the sentencing.
Macia claimed he was shot in the leg on October 30, 2024, by a driver while parked on the shoulder of Southern State Parkway, about a mile from his home. The fictitious driver was described as a “dark-skinned” man who fled in a car with temporary New Jersey plates headed toward New York City.
Instead, prosecutors say, Macchia staged the alleged shooting scene by scattering shell casings, then shot himself in a park, hid the .22-caliber rifle, returned to the highway and called for backup.
Jeffrey Lichtman, who represents Macia and his parents, said in an email that the former soldier is “scared by his actions and is happy to finally move on with his life.”
Macchia, who became a trooper in 2019, had an undiagnosed mental health issue at the time of the shooting and was undergoing treatment, he previously said.
Macia’s parents also pleaded guilty to possession of an illegal firearm, which was found during a search of the family home.
Thomas A. Macia, the defendant’s father, was sentenced to five years of supervised release on Wednesday. Dorothy Machia was granted supervised release for one year.