Fumo guilty on all counts; must post $2 million bail

March 16, 2009|By Joseph A. Slobodzian, Emilie Lounsberry and Robert Moran, Inquirer Staff Writers
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  • Former Pennsylvania State Senator Vincent J. Fumo returns to the U.S Courthouse in Philadelphia for a bail hearing this afternoon. Earlier he was found guilty on all charges by the jury in his corruption trial.
  • Former Pennsylvania State Senator Vincent J. Fumo returns to the U.S Courthouse in Philadelphia for a bail hearing this afternoon. Earlier he was found guilty on all charges by the jury in his corruption trial. (Tony Fitts )
  • Edwin J. Jacobs Jr., left, attorney for Ruth Arnao, listens as Dennis J. Cogan, center, the attorney for former Pa. State Sen. Vincent J. Fumo, talks with reporters outside the U.S. Courthouse after his client's guilty verdict. (Tony Fitts )
  • Former State Sen. Vincent J. Fumo leaves U.S. Courthouse with his girlfriend Carolyn Zinni after being found guilty this morning. (Tony Fitts )
  • Fumo co-defendant Ruth Arnao is escorted away from the federal courthouse today after being foun guilty on all counts along with former State Sen. Vincent Fumo. (Tony Fitts )
  • Former Pa. State Sen. Vincent J Fumo (back to camera) enters his car as he leaves U.S. Courthouse after being found guilty. (Tony Fitts )
  • Vincent E. Fumo, son of the former state senator, leaves the federal courthouse after his father was found guilty. (Tony Fitts )
  • Former Pa. State Sen. Vincent J Fumo is interviewed by a news reporter as he and girlifriend Carolyn Zinni arrive this morning at the U.S. Courthouse in Philadelphia. (Tony Fitts )

Former State Sen. Vincent Fumo was convicted of all 137 counts against him today as his marathon federal corruption trial ended in a stunning victory for prosecutors.

The jury also found co-defendant Ruth Arnao guilty of all 45 counts against her.

After a 30-minute hearing this afternoon, U.S. District Judge Ronald L. Buckwalter agreed to let Fumo and Arnao remain free pending sentencing although he ordered them to post bail of $2 million and $500,000, respectively, by Wednesday.

The two had been free on unsecured own-recognizance bail since they were charged.

Fumo's bail will be secured by properties he owns in Philadelphia and central Pennsylvania, the Jersey Shore and Florida; Arnao's will be secured by her home in Philadelphia.

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Both defendants were ordered not to leave the Eastern District of Pennsylvania – nine counties in the southeastern part of the state – without court approval and to report in person once a week to federal pre-trial services personnel and three more times each week by phone.

Buckwalter did not set a sentencing date but scheduled a hearing for Thursday morning on how much in assets Fumo should be ordered to forfeit, based on the jury's finding that he illegally funneled public funds for his personal benefit.

Prosecutors are expected to seek a prison term of more than 10 years for the once-powerful politician.

Earlier, after the jury returned its verdict, Fumo, 65, embraced his daughter Allie and his girlfriend Carolyn Zinni, both of whom were weeping, as was Arnao.

Fumo looked nervous and ashen while waiting for the jury to return and the courtroom was packed as the jury forewoman announced one guilty verdict after another.

Buckwalter discharged the jury after all 12 members were polled and said they agreed with the verdicts, reached after a four-month trial and five days of deliberations.

Outside of court, juror Myrna DeVoren said Fumo had started out with good intentions that somehow became twisted.

"It is not a family-owned business," she said of Fumo's former Senate office.

DeVoren said the jurors looked for reasonable doubt, but found none.

"I'm very disappointed," said Fumo's defense attorney, Dennis J. Cogan, as he walked from the 17th floor courtroom at the U.S. Courthouse off Independence Mall. "But it's on now to the next part of the process."

Cogan said he would immediately move for a new trial for Fumo.

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