Vince Fumo returns to court for sentencing
Monday, July 13th, 2009
By: Susan Phillips
sphillips@whyy.org
Former Pennsylvania state Senator Vincent Fumo is heading back into court Tuesday for his sentencing hearing. The 66-year-old Democratic power broker, who served 30 years in the State Senate, was convicted in March of defrauding a charity, a museum, and the Senate.
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Fumo is facing between 11 and 14 years in jail. But prosecutors are asking for more time, while Fumo is asking for less. The former Senator will back up his request with 250 letters of support.
Former federal prosecutor Barry Gross says the guidelines used to be mandatory, but now are only advisory.
Gross: You're really going to have both portraits of Senator Fumo brought out. The defense is going to bring out all his good deeds. The prosecution is going to bring out all his bad deeds. And I'm sure that for everything that the defense brings out that Senator Fumo did well, or helped people, the prosecution will have another whole story as to all the things that they claim he did wrong.
Fumo will also ask the judge for relief based on his poor health.