Federal prosecutors are recommending that disgraced former Pennsylvania State Senator Vincent Fumo, 68, be re-sentenced to at least 15 years in prison, according to the Inquirer.
Senior U.S. District Judge Ronald Buckwalter is scheduled to re-sentence Fumo on November 9 following a successful challenge by prosecutors of the original 4-year term.
A jury in 2009 convicted the former Democratic power broker of defrauding the state Senate, a museum and a nonprofit of millions by using their staff and resources to fund his lavish lifestyle.
Prosecutors say that Fumo should also pay more than $4.2 million in restitution. They argue against any sentence reduction based on his legislative service but say if the court grants one the sentence should still be at least 15 years.
The Inquirer reports that Fumo’s defense team countered this, urging the judge to reinstate the 55-month sentence he imposed two years ago. The defense team cited Fumo’s public service, private acts of generosity and mentoring to fellow inmates in spite of his poor health as reasoning for the lighter sentence.
The U.S. Court of Appeals ordered District Judge Ronald Buckwalter to re-sentence back in August due to what they claim was a badly underestimated figure for the cost of Fumo’s crime, according to the Inquirer. Prosecutors also argued that Fumo wasn’t as great of a public servant as his defense team argued, citing findings from the FBI that he vacationed for four months a year or more.
A decision on Fumo’s re-sentencing will be made during a hearing on November 9.
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