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9:21	Former state Sen. Vincent Fumo has arrived at the federal courthouse on Independence Mall for his sentencing. Fumo, convicted of corruption, was accompanied by his fiancee Carolyn Zinni. Peter Nero, conductor of the Philly Pops and friend of Fumo, arrived earlier.

9:53	Emilie Lounsberry - Good morning. The courtroom is packed, and the mood is tense. Fumo already has given a heart-felt kiss to his fiancee, Carolyn Zinni, and lawyers on both sides are poised to take their seats.

9:56

Emilie Lounsberry - There are a total of more than 100 people in the 14th floor courtroom, and dozens more are outside, hoping for a seat inside for one of the most dramatic court proceedings in years.
His daughter, Allyson, is in one of the front seats of the courtroom.
Matthew Higgins, courtroom deputy to U.S. District Judge Ronald L. Buckwalter, is saying we are moving to the ceremonial courtroom.

9:56	Emilie Lounsberry - court is recessed until 11 a.m. to go to a bigger courtroom to accommodate the public's interest in the trial. Back as soon as we can.

10:24

Emilie Lounsberry - Big thanks to Matt Higgins and the wonderful staff of the clerk's office at U.S. District Court! In record time, the switch to a new courtroom has been accomplished.
We are now in the Ceremonial Courtroom, where the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit sometimes sits en banc. Sometimes, jury selection is done for big trials in this courtroom, too.
The courtroom accommodates about 300 people, and it is filling up fast. Former U.S. Attorney Patrick Meehan is here, and so is Fumo's daughter, Allie. The defense lawyers are now entering the courtroom.
The atmosphere is tense.

10:32

Emilie Lounsberry -

Fumo has now entered the courtroom, with fiancee Carolyn Zinni.

10:33

Emilie Lounsberry - This is the same courtroom that the Third Circuit used to hear oral arguments in the case of death row inmate Mumia Abu-Jamal.

10:35

Emilie Lounsberry - Matt Higgins, courtroom deputy, is addressing the audience. "This is a very serious proceeding. We will not tolerate any noises or outbursts or comments."
Anyone who violates this will be removed. There is no reserved seating.

10:39

Emilie Lounsberry - U.S. Rep. Shirley Kitchens, City Councilman Frank DiCicco, Sen. Tina Tartaglione are all here. Dr. John Maneti, the physician for all U.S. prisons in the northeast, will be the first witness for the govrnment. He is expected to testify about how the ureau of prisons could accommodate Fumo's health problems.
The defense plans to put on a few witnesses. Fumo will almost certainly give a statement.
Others here include art dealer Reese Palley and Fumo's son, Vincent.,

10:40

Emilie Lounsberry - Multimillionaire parking magnate Lewis Katz is present. He is a major Democratic donor and close friend of Gov. Rendell.and a major philanthropist.

10:43

Emilie Lounsberry - Others present include the head off the Philadelphia FB I office, Jan Fedarcyk, deputy special agent in charge Bob Downey and Agent John Roberts, who heads the public corruption squad. The two case agents, Vicki Humphreys and Kathy McAfee, also are presents. McAfee now works as deputy Philadelphia Inspector General. Others present include Philadelphia Common Pleas Judge William Manfredi, a close frien of Fumo. Fumo's ex-wife, Jane Scacetti, also is present.

10:47

Emilie Lounsberry - Assistant U.S. Attorneys John J. Pease and Robert A. Zauzmer are now at their seats, as are defense attorneys Dennis J. Cogan, Samuel Buffone and Peter Goldberger. Ed Jacobs, who represents co-defendant Ruth Arnao, is also here. Arnao is scheduld to be sentenced next week.
FBI case agent Brian Nicola is also here, and so is IRS Agent Bob Tengood.
Fumo is sitting between Zinni and his daughter, Allie.

10:51

Emilie Lounsberry - Testing. Almost lost power....

10:53

Emilie Lounsberry -

U.S. District Judge Ronald L. Buckwalter is about to enter the courtroom.

11:00

Emilie Lounsberry - Buckwalter ruled on the new guideline calculation and ends up being a 32. "Now we're going to begin," said the judge.
He said he credited all but eight Senate people in determining the loss in the case.
Zauzmer wants more detail in case of a government appeal of the sentencing.
The compilation of the loss with regard to Citizens Alliance was more complicated, the judge said.
He said he made no determination on the loss calculation for Mitch Rubin. "I wasn't going to go through all athat exercise at this time," said the judge.
He denied request for a break based on physical condition, but still pending is whether Fumo should get a break for good works. That will come today.

11:01

Emilie Lounsberry -

Pease said there will be one government witness, Dr. John Manenti, who will testify about how a defendant such as Fumo would be treated in prison.

Manenti is taking the stand.

11:04

Emilie Lounsberry - Manenti works for federal Bureau of Prisons as northeast regional director. This is for federal prisons between Ohio and New Jersey and includes Pennsylvania.
Fumo is not sitting with his lawyers, but is still in the front row of the courtroom. Usually, a defendant sits among his or her lawyers.
Fumo has a history of heart problems and diabetes and takes a number of medications, most of which are available at prisons.
Manenti was a primary-care physician. He is board certified in family medicine.

11:05

Emilie Lounsberry - U.S. Attorney Michael Levy is in the front row of the courtroom.

11:11

11:13

Emilie Lounsberry - Manenti said inmates are classified according to their medical conditions. Level one, for example is the designation is for the healthiest prisoners.
This designation considers medical and psychological records and any currently known diagnoses. Another BOP person has concluded that Fumo would be a level two -- and Manenti said he concurs with that. Typically, in a care level two institution, primary care is done by prison medical personnel, but specialists also would be available. Where needed, an inmate can be placed in a hospital if necessary. There also are five federal medical centers available for federal prisons. In Massachusettes, for example, there is Mass General available. Rochester, Minn., has a strong relationship with the Mayo Clinic. There is another prison near Duke and the University of NC.
In the northeast region, level two institutions include the federal prison at Fairton, NJ., Allenwood, Raybrook, NY, Fort DIx, N.J.

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