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French was hired in 2004 as a letter carrier at the Dayton View Post Office, according to spokeswoman with the U.S. Attorney’s Office. No other information about French’s employment is available.
French’s attorney filed a motion to continue the May 29 trial date and it was granted by U.S. District Court Judge Thomas Rose.
French’s attorney, Charles Wagner, did not immediately return a message seeking comment. French has been free on his own recognizance.
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A court document alleged French participated in 35 motorcycle races during an 18-month period in which he was disabled or on light duty.
French was indicted March 15 of making false, fictitious and fraudulent statements to medical personnel and the postal service which led to Office of Workers’ Compensation Benefits of $93,971.42.
French is at least the eighth area postal worker to be alleged of federal crimes in the past few years.
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The indictment detailed how French allegedly injured his knee while falling on ice when he was delivering mail on Feb. 2, 2011.
French filled out a claim for disability pay and was off from work for a year until returning to one hour of limited duty per day, the indictment said.
The indictment said that in September 2013, a Department of Labor form French submitted limited him to zero hours for lifting weight, walking, climbing, kneeling, bending, stooping and operating machinery.
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In October 2013, French told special agents from the U.S. Postal Service Office of the Inspector General that he was physically unable to work, go up and down stairs, kneel, ride or race his motorcycles, pass a National Hot Rod Association physical, fill his nitrous oxide tank, drive a manual car or put pressure on his left leg, according to court documents.
The indictment said that from May 13, 2011, to Oct. 23, 2013, agents of the Inspector General observed French “participating in approximately thirty-five motorcycle races and one car race at various racetracks in Ohio and Indiana.”
The indictment didn’t explain why it was filed several years after the events and federal prosecutors didn’t respond to messages seeking comment.
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