Fumo begins prison term

Former State Sen. Vincent J. Fumo walked into the federal prison camp in Ashland, Ky., this morning to begin serving his 55-month term for corruption and fraud.

He entered the prison at 9:20 a.m. wearing a white dress shirt, blue jeans and white running shoes.

Fumo, 66, carried his head high and clutched a manila folder thick with papers.

He was accompanied by four men, including his son Vincent E. Fumo, but not his fiancee Carolyn Zinni, who was a constant at his side during his trial and sentencing.

Another companion yesterday was Andrew Cosenza, a Cherry Hill, N.J., businessman who was active in Fumo's effort to set up a legal defense fund. The other two men with Fumo could not be identified immediately.

After driving up to the prison in a black SUV, Fumo went to the front door of the minimum security facility when he arrived but was directed to a side entrance, where he went in to begin his time in custody.

His arrival in prison marks an end to a career that made him a dominant political figure in Harrisburg and Philadelphia for three decades.

Fumo's ex-aide and codefendant Ruth Arnao also is to surrender today to being serving a one-year term.

With time off for good behavior, Fumo could cut seven months off his prison time. He could cut another year off if the prison systrem agrees that he can enroll in a substance-abuse treatment program.