Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Vincent Fumo
Former Pennsylvania Senator Vincent Fumo (D) had quite the laundry list of guilty counts against him. Obstruction of justice for destroying evidence. Stealing from a nonprofit. Using taxpayer funds to hire a private investigator to snoop on political enemies and ex-girlfriends. Taking free trips on a yacht owned by another nonprofit. But after being convicted on 137 counts, Fumo was sentenced to only four years and seven months in prison. The prosecutor wanted 10-15 years, and federal sentencing guidelines and a probation report recommended 21-27 years.
Instead, Fumo will be spending almost as much time behind bars as a New Jersey man, Anthony Jones, who was convicted of stealing lobster tails from a casino in Atlantic City. Fumo’s fraud is estimated to have earned him about $4 million, while Jones’ lobster tails were worth $1,275. Both the U.S. Attorney who tried Fumo’s case and many local citizens were outraged when they heard of the ex-lawmaker’s lenient sentence.
-Noel Brinkerhoff
Ex-Senator Fumo's Punishment Draws Outrage as Too Lenient (by Brad Bumsted, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review)
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