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Bodybuilding Firefighter Found Not Guilty Of Fraud

BOSTON (AP) -- A former Boston firefighter who participated in a bodybuilding contest after claiming he was permanently disabled has been found not guilty of fraud.

A federal jury acquitted Albert Arroyo on Monday, two weeks after he pleaded not guilty to mail fraud for what prosecutors say was an attempt to collect a tax-free accidental disability he was not entitled to receive.

Arroyo claimed he was disabled when he hurt his back in a fall at a Boston fire station in March 2008. He was seen two months later participating in a bodybuilding contest.

WBZ-TV's Jonathan Elias got reaction from some Bostonians

Prosecutors said Arroyo didn't disclose the activity on his disability pension application.

His attorney, Timothy Watkins, said that bodybuilding was good for Arroyo's back injury.

Watkins said Monday they are "very grateful that the jury was able to thoughtfully consider all of the evidence."

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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