A Springfield, Illinois man has been sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for assaulting a United States Postal Service employee. Larry French Jr., aged 23, received the sentence on January 14, 2025, which will be followed by two years of supervised release.
The incident occurred on May 15, 2024, when French was involved in a physical altercation with his sister on a public street in Springfield. The altercation blocked an intersection, preventing a USPS carrier from passing through. When the postal worker attempted to intervene and threatened to call the police, French punched him through an open vehicle window. The attack resulted in injuries requiring corrective surgery for the postal worker.
During the sentencing hearing before U.S. District Judge Colleen Lawless, it was noted that French's actions were irrational and caused serious bodily harm to the victim. Judge Lawless praised the postal worker as a "Good Samaritan" for attempting to stop the initial attack and contacting law enforcement.
French was indicted by a federal grand jury in July 2024 and pleaded guilty in September of that year. He has been held by the United States Marshal since his arrest.
According to statutory guidelines, assaulting a federal officer can result in up to twenty years of imprisonment, three years of supervised release, and fines up to $250,000.
The case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service and the Springfield Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sierra Senor-Moore led the prosecution.
