PHILADELPHIA — Prosecutors will again push for at least a 15-year sentence when ex-Pennsylvania state Sen. Vincent Fumo is resentenced in his federal corruption case.

Prosecutors successfully challenged the 4½-year sentence in the case, leading Senior U.S. District Judge Ronald Buckwalter to schedule a Nov. 9 do-over.

A jury in 2009 convicted Fumo of defrauding the state Senate, a museum and a nonprofit of millions by using their staff and resources to fund his lavish lifestyle. He had been a wealthy Democratic power broker during his 30-year state Senate career.

An appeals court ruled last month that Buckwalter had ignored more than $1.5 million in losses and made other mistakes in calculating Fumo's sentence.

Prosecutors believe the guideline range for Fumo's fraud is 18 to 21 years.

“Really, nothing has changed,” Assistant U.S. Attorney John Pease said today.

Defense lawyer Dennis Cogan will urge Buckwalter to give the same 55-month sentence, but explain his reasoning. Fumo has been left “twisting in the wind” amid the uncertainty, Cogan said.

Fumo, 68, remains in prison in Kentucky and did not attend today's scheduling hearing.

By The Associated Press