After a long drawn out court battle, the ex-state Sen. Vincent Fumo
got hit big– a conviction on all 137 counts. His attorneys tried this morning to derail the deliberations after discovering that one juror had posted a note on Facebook saying “Stay Tuned” for Monday. But after questioning the juror, the judge denied the defense motion. Expect that issue to come up on appeal.
By Joseph A. Slobodzian, Emilie Lounsberry and Robert Moran
Philadelphia Inquirer
PHILADELPHIA — 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.
