Media Release
IWIF Communications:
Claudia Ciolfi, 410-494-2193
Jim Taylor, 410-494-2023
cciolfi@iwif.com
jtaylor@iwif.com

IWIF Claimant stabbed by girlfriend, gets 6 months in jail

(TOWSON, MD) –IWIF Workers’ Compensation Insurance announced a Baltimore Circuit Court found Masio Pearson, aka Duane Owens Ray of Baltimore, Maryland, guilty of theft and insurance fraud charges. The court sentenced Pearson to six months in jail to be served in the Baltimore City Detention Center. The court also barred him from collecting additional claim benefits from IWIF pertaining to his alleged injury.

Pearson reported to IWIF an alleged work-related injury to his arm while working as a laborer for a Baltimore-based fence company. He claimed he fell on a nail, punctured his arm and could not work as a result of his injury.

Pearson’s claim became suspect when his disgruntled girlfriend contacted IWIF and claimed Pearson’s alleged work-related injury was false. She claimed Pearson’s arm injury was a result of a stab wound she had inflicted with a knife during a domestic dispute. Pearson’s 69-day claim tallied approximately $2,300 in medical expenses and $1,700 in temporary total benefits.

IWIF’s 16-member Special Investigations Unit is credited with 31 claimant arrests/referrals for prosecution for 2006 as of November. Established in 1914, IWIF is the largest provider of workers’ compensation insurance in Maryland.