Fumo Guilty on All Counts

Fumo faces 20 years in federal prison. He'll be sentenced in 90 days.

By KAREN ARAIZA

Updated 8:51 PM EST, Wed, Mar 18, 2009

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Guilty is the verdict on all 137 counts for Vince Fumo in his federal corruption trail. His co-defendant Ruth Arnao is also guilty on all counts against her.

It was standing room only as the verdicts were read, capping off a dramatic five-month trial and a dramatic morning.

Attorneys for both sides argued over whether Fumo was a flight risk. The government asked for Fumo's bail to be revoked saying he had a "strong incentive to flee." The judge decided not to revoke Fumo's bail and instead set a hearing for 2 p.m.

Fumo hugged his younger daughter, who was crying. He hugged his girlfriend, Carolyn Zinni, who was also in tears.

Fumo Has Few Words Leaving Federal Court

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Fumo Has Few Words Leaving Federal Court

Fumo Juror Kim Guckin

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Fumo Juror Kim Guckin

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The Fumo Jurors

The Democrat who was arguably the most powerful politician in the state, now faces time in federal prison.

The verdict came within an hour of the judge's decision to let a juror stay on after accusations by Fumo's team that the juror was putting trial posts on his Facebook and twitter. There was a lot of speculation that the emergency request by Fumo's team on Sunday, to question and possilby dismiss that juror, could lead to anything from a delay to a mistrial.

Judge Ronald L. Buckwalter questioned the juror for about half an hour Monday morning and denied the request to dismiss.

The juror's latest posts included a promise that a "big announcement" was coming on Monday, according to the court documents.

Fumo is guilty of defrauding the Senate, a charity and a museum of $3.5 million and with destroying evidence. He left the Senate last year after 30 years.

The trial, which started Oct. 22, featured more than 100 witnesses and 1,300 exhibits, made OPM a household acronym and gave us much more than a glimpse of Fumo's failed relationships as a friend and a father.

Taxpayers found out how their hard-earned money was being spent, at times, on dinners Fumo had with a former girlfriend. Her testimony revealed a power-hungry man with a sense of entitlement who often picked up the tab with "OPM," his acronym for "Other People's Money."

Fumo defended his actions by saying he was doing the job the people of Pennsylvania had hired him to do, and always with their best interests in mind.

The trial also revealed Fumo's troubled relationships, including his own daughter whose wedding he did not attend. Fumo blamed some of his relationship issues on a childhood he characterized as melancholy, medicated and filled with lots of therapy.