A U.S. Appeals Court has tossed out the 55-month sentence for former state Senator and power broker Vincent Fumo following his 2009 on corruption charges.
The Third Circuit Court of Appeals’ decision also vacates the sentence for co-defendant Ruth Arnao, who was sentenced to one year and one day. The Court claims Judge Ronald Buckwalter did not give an explanation for going well below the sentencing guidelines and will order re-sentencing.
Fumo was convicted of defrauding the government by using Senate employees to do campaign work and run personal errands, and that he used his influence to defraud Independence Seaport Museum and a South Philadelphia nonprofit he founded. The jury found him guilty on all 137 counts. Arnao was convicted on 45 counts for fraud, tax evasion and obstruction of justice.
Fumo is currently serving time in a federal prison in Kentucky.
“We are pleased with the decision of the Third Circuit Court of Appeals and will prepare for the next step in the process,” U.S. Attorney Zane David Memeger said in a statement.
