Ex-Cop Nicole Brown and Stepfather Peter Schuman Charged in $600K Disability Fraud Scheme

California – May 2025: A former police officer in California is facing serious legal trouble after allegedly faking a disability to collect over $600,000 in tax-free benefits while living an active and lavish lifestyle.

Nicole Brown, 39, a former officer with the Westminster Police Department, is now facing 15 felony charges for a fraudulent workers’ compensation scheme, according to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office.

Injury Turned into Luxury

Brown claimed to suffer from post-concussion syndrome after a minor head injury during an arrest in 2022. She used this as a basis to take a prolonged disability leave from the police department.

However, prosecutors allege she wasn’t resting or in recovery. Instead, she:

• Partied at the Stagecoach music festival

• Took ski trips to Big Bear and Mammoth

• Visited Disneyland

• Ran two 5K races

• Attended youth soccer conferences and baseball games

• Pursued a master’s degree in organizational leadership online

Despite these activities, Brown claimed she was unable to look at a computer screen and attended a Zoom meeting in a dark room, saying it caused her discomfort, just three days after Stagecoach.

Fraud With a Family Twist

Authorities say Brown had help from her stepfather, Peter Gregory Schuman, a workers’ compensation attorney.

Schuman, 57, is accused of:

• Representing Brown in all meetings with the police department

• Orchestrating her admission to a traumatic brain injury center

• Advising her throughout the alleged fraud

He faces two felony charges and could face up to 8 years in prison and lose his law license.

Legal Consequences

Nicole Brown could face up to 22 years in prison if found guilty of all charges. Prosecutors stress that this case reflects the need for stricter oversight of public benefit claims and professional conduct in legal practice.

The Orange County DA emphasized, “This case is a betrayal of public trust and a shameful misuse of taxpayer funds.”