OLYMPIA, Wash. – A licensed nursing assistant pleaded guilty to insurance fraud after claiming he was injured in a car crash.
Investigators determined Darius Deshazier could not have been hurt, because physical evidence suggested he wasn’t in his car at the time.
“Right away it became apparent the story that was being told was not factual,” said Mark Couey, director of the state’s Office of Insurance Commissioner Criminal Investigations Unit.
Deshazier’s car was rear-ended in the HOV lane of Interstate 5 near Tukwila in February 2016. Deshazier, who told investigators he was a licensed in-home caregiver, said he and two passengers were in the car at the time.
Deshazier complained of pain in the head, neck, and jaw and received pain medication to last him more than a week. Three days later he went to a second hospital and received more pain medication.
After reviewing the car’s wreckage, Deshazier’s insurance provider contacted state investigators.
They could not find any evidence anyone was in the car at the time of the crash.
Investigators determined the back door of the car was open at the time, because it was not damaged and would have been stuck shut based on the condition of the rest of the car.
According to investigators, Deshazier later confessed to abandoning the car in the HOV lane.
He said they parked because of an argument and were not in the car when the crash happened.
Deshazier received a 30-day jail sentence after pleading guilty to insurance fraud and drug charges.
The Department of Health said Deshazier does have a valid nursing assistant’s license.
After learning of the guilty plea from KING 5 News, a state Department of Health spokesperson said a complaint will be filed against Deshazier, which could lead to an investigation.
