PHILADELPHIA — A longtime assistant of indicted state Sen. Vincent Fumo has been charged with mail fraud for allegedly submitting $63,000 in bogus invoices for meals at a lavish Philadelphia restaurant and keeping the money.

Susan Skotnicki, 52, of Camp Hill, was slated to take the stand as a defense witness in Fumo's federal corruption trial but is no longer expected to testify, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported Tuesday.

Skotnicki, who resigned last week from her $103,000-a-year state job, was charged Monday with one count of mail fraud. She worked for Fumo at his Harrisburg office since 1981.

Defense attorney Catherine Recker said Skotnicki intends to make restitution and will do "everything in her power to right this wrong."

Skotnicki's responsibilities included preparing and submitting Fumo's expenses for reimbursement.

Prosecutors allege Skotnicki submitted false or inflated invoices for $71,156 for 100 meals at the Delaware River waterfront restaurant La Veranda. The restaurant's invoices show the actual amount was $12,324, according to investigators. After the Senate issued reimbursement checks, Skotnicki deposited them into Fumo's account, and wrote about 89 checks payable to herself and pocketed about $63,000, authorities said. Fumo's lead defense attorney, Dennis J. Cogan, has described Fumo as devastated by the allegations against his aide.

Fumo, 65, is charged with misusing more than $3.5 million from the state Senate, a South Philadelphia charity and a museum. He has pleaded not guilty and his trial is ongoing.