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New Sentencing For Vincent Fumo Set To Begin November 9th

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - The resentencing of convicted former Pennsylvania state senator Vince Fumo has been scheduled for November 9th, and it is shaping up as another epic battle between prosecutors and defense in his case.

Fumo's original prison sentence of four years and seven months was overturned (see related story) after an appeal by the prosecution (another related story).

Fumo was convicted of all 137 counts against him when the jury found that he had defrauded the state senate and his own nonprofit organization.  The government was outraged by the 55-month sentence imposed by Judge Ronald Buckwalter.

"At the first sentencing hearing of Mr. Fumo about two years ago, we recommended a sentence of at least 15 years in prison," recalls federal prosecutor John Pease.  "Based on the outcome of the Third Circuit's rulings on the guidelines issues, we feel that was an appropriate recommendation the first time around -- and it's likely we will be making that same recommendation."

But defense attorney Dennis Cogan, who contends that Fumo has been unfairly, cruelly "twisting in the wind" and has suffered as a result,  says he'll argue for the same sentence as before -- maybe less.

Reported by Tony Hanson, KYW Newsradio 1060

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