Fumo guilty on all counts; must post $2 million bail
The 12 jurors filed in five minutes later and Buckwalter asked the audience for quiet, explaining that jury forewoman Karen White was never asked to have to deliver this type of news before such a large audience.
White then began the 11-minute process of announcing the verdict on each of the 141 counts spread over the 18-page form charging Fumo and Arnao variously with counts of conspiracy, mail fraud, wire fraud, obstruction of justice and filing false tax returns.
By count 65, White's voice began to cloud from speaking in the hot courtroom and she asked for water before continuing. She had more water at count 99. The monotonous repetition of guilty verdicts tripped White only once, causing her to announce a guilty verdict for Fumo on a count in which only Arnao was charged.
Fumo was charged with conspiring to defraud the state Senate by using employees for personal and political-campaign work on state time.
He also was charged with defrauding the South Philadelphia nonprofit, Citizens' Alliance for Better Neighborhoods, by getting it to pay for thousands of tools, consumer goods and other items.
Arnao, a former aide to Fumo who headed Citizens' Alliance, was charged in that conspiracy.
Fumo also was charged with defrauding the Independence Seaport Museum by getting free yacht cruises.
He and Arnao also were accused of conspiring to obstruct FBI and IRS investigation.
Fumo, a senator since 1978, had been one of the most powerful Democrats in Philadelphia and in Harrisburg. He chaired the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee and also influenced elections for City Council, judgeships and the state legislature.
Staff writer Gail Shister contributed to this report.






