Judge rejects delay in Fumo sentencing

A federal judge says convicted former state Sen. Vincent Fumo must be sentenced as scheduled on July 14.

Fumo's lawyers had requested a delay because, they said, the case is so complex that they needed until at least late September to prepare. A federal judge issued a one-sentence order yesterday afternoon denying the extension.

Federal prosecutors have said sentencing guidelines call for Fumo to get 21 to 27 years in prison. The defense disputes the way his his possible sentence was calculated and plans to seek a shorter one.

In March, a jury found that the 66-year-old South Philadelphia Democrat had defrauded the state Senate, a charity and a museum of $3.5 million. *

- Associated Press