Caseyville Man Sentenced for Stealing Funds from Railroad Retirement Board

The United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Stephen R. Wigginton, announced today that Dennis Harold French, 53, of Caseyville, Illinois, was sentenced following his guilty plea to charges that he stole disability benefits from the U.S. Railroad Retirement Board. The United States District Court in East Saint Louis sentenced French to three years of probation. The court also ordered him to pay restitution of $82,763.47 to the U.S. Railroad Retirement Board and a special assessment of $100.

At his plea, French admitted that from May 2009 through June 2012, French fraudulently obtained benefits from U.S. Railroad Retirement Board, an agency of the United States, by concealing his employment status in order to receive occupational disability benefits.

The case was investigated by agents of the U.S. Railroad Retirement Board, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney William E. Coonan.

If you suspect or know of an individual or company that is committing fraud against any U.S. Railroad Retirement Board program, you may report this to the U.S. Railroad Retirement Board=s Office of Inspector General by calling 1.800.772.4258 or by e-mailing a complaint or information to: hotline@oig.rrb.gov.