Smalltown PA - Penn Pike's law firm employs Fumo prosecutor Pat Meehan (PERSONNEL)

The large US Department of Justice prosecution that put the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission's longtime state senate patron Vincent Fumo into jail for four and a half years for 137 counts of thievery and corruption was run by Patrick Meehan, the US Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

When the trial was over and the sentence was handed down Meehan - who meanwhile had gone into private practise - said he thought Fumo got off too lightly. Meehan issued this forceful statement:

"While I am deeply disappointed in the length of former Senator Vince Fumo's sentence, we cannot forget that justice was realized and Vince Fumo was soundly convicted for a pattern of criminal behavior.  He has been removed from the legislature and is now going to jail.  This is a remarkable event that no one thought would happen.  When the jury spoke back in March, they did so unambiguously and found him guilty on all counts.  Fumo's crimes were far worse than those of others -- such as Corey Kemp and Rick Mariano -- and yet his sentence was dramatically less severe.  We are sending the wrong message to those in power that if you abuse the public trust, don't worry because the punishment will be weak."

Meehan now works at Conrad O'Brien PC, a Philadelphia law firm just retained by the Turnpike Commission to defend itself against the FBI and state law enforcement. Lawyer O'Brien has a bunch of helpers, but it would be delicious if he put Meehan onto defending the Turnpike Commission.

TOLLROADSnews 2009-11-16