USDOJ Press Release: Former State Senator Convicted of 137 Counts of Conspiracy, Wire Fraud, Mail Fraud, Tax Violatons, Obstruction of Justice

For Immediate Release
March 16, 2009 United States Attorney's Office
Eastern District of Pennsylvania
Contact: Patricia Hartman, (215) 861-8525


Jury Finds Fumo and Arnao Guilty on All Counts
PHILADELPHIA —A federal jury returned guilty verdicts on all counts against former State Senator Vincent Fumo and Ruth Arnao, announced United States Attorney Laurie Magid. Fumo was charged with 137 counts that included conspiracy, wire fraud, mail fraud, tax violations, and obstruction of justice. Arnao was charged with 45 counts that included mail fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to obstruct the IRS, filing a false tax return, and obstruction of justice.

U.S. District Court Judge Ronald Buckwalter ordered increased bail in the amount of two million dollars for Fumo and $500,000 for Arnao. A sentencing date has not been set.

“There should never be another Fumo World, a world in which millions of dollars of taxpayer and charity money went to enrich and feed one man’s gluttony,” said Magid. “The public is weary of officials playing by their own rules and ignoring lines.”

“Unfortunately, troubling headlines from around the nation highlighting public corruption seems all too common today,” said Assistant Special Agent-in-Charge Bob Downey of the FBI. “That is but one reason why rooting out public corruption and bringing those who engage in it to justice remains the FBI's top criminal priority.”

A forfeiture hearing is scheduled for Thursday, March 19, 2009.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Internal Revenue Service. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys John Pease and Robert A. Zauzmer.


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