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Fumo aide pleads guilty, sentencing in November

A former computer technician for state Sen. Vincent J. Fumo pleaded guilty this morning in U.S. District Court to conspiring to obstruct the FBI and IRS investigation, and agreed to cooperate with federal prosecutors and testify as a government witness in the forthcoming trial of Fumo.

A former computer technician for state Sen. Vincent J. Fumo pleaded guilty this morning in U.S. District Court to conspiring to obstruct the FBI and IRS investigation, and agreed to cooperate with federal prosecutors and testify as a government witness in the forthcoming trial of Fumo.

Mark C. Eister, 38, of Camp Hill, pleaded guilty to conspiracy and four counts of obstructing justice. U.S. District Judge William H. Yohn Jr. scheduled sentencing for Nov. 20.

Eister was charged in the massive corruption indictment that also named Fumo, longtime Fumo friend Ruth Arnao and Leonard P. Luchko, a former computer technician in Fumo's Philadelphia office.

Luchko, of Collingdale, Delaware County, pleaded guilty last Monday to one count of conspiracy and 28 counts of obstruction of justice. He agreed to testify for the government.

Fumo and Arnao are scheduled to stand trial, beginning Sept. 8, in a trial expected to last three to four months.

Contact staff writer Emilie Lounsberry at 215-854-4828 or at elounsberry@phillynews.com.