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Fumo aide gets probation in theft of state funds

A longtime aide to disgraced former State Sen. Vincent J. Fumo was sentenced yesterday to four years of probation for stealing thousands of dollars from the state by inflating her boss' meal expenses.

A longtime aide to disgraced former State Sen. Vincent J. Fumo was sentenced yesterday to four years of probation for stealing thousands of dollars from the state by inflating her boss' meal expenses.

Susan A. Skotnicki, 53, who was paid $103,169 a year as Fumo's executive secretary in his Harrisburg office, pleaded guilty Jan. 9 - in the middle of Fumo's corruption trial - to one count of mail fraud.

She had been set to testify on Fumo's behalf, but was never called to the witness stand.

Assistant U.S. Attorney John J. Pease said that Skotnicki helped the prosecution during the remainder of the trial, which ended in March when Fumo was found guilty of 137 counts of fraud, tax offenses, and obstruction of justice. He is serving a 55-month prison sentence.

Skotnicki, who was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Anita Brody, is also cooperating with ongoing criminal investigations, Pease said. The Camp Hill resident, who also was known as Susan Swett, had faced a possible prison term of 12 to 18 months.

Because of her cooperation, "we did not ask for a prison sentence in this case," Pease said, who called the sentence "fair and just and appropriate."

As part of her cooperation, she reimbursed the state for $70,113. She showed "genuine remorse" and immediately explained to the chief clerk of the Senate how she obtained the fraudulent reimbursements, Pease said.

Skotnicki, who worked for Fumo and the Senate from 1978 until she resigned last December, admitted to submitting inflated or phony invoices for meals at La Veranda, a Delaware River waterfront restaurant where Fumo frequently dined. Skotnicki paid for the cost of the meals and kept the difference.

She pocketed $66,277 from the fraudulent meal reimbursements and also took $3,836 from a Senate account to pay personal bills, Pease said.

Officials said she paid full restitution earlier this year.

Because of her guilty plea, she forfeited what would have been a $50,450 annual pension and state-paid health-care benefits.