Fumo associate leaves Pa. Turnpike job

PHILADELPHIA, March 23 (UPI) -- A Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission official says he is taking an unpaid leave after being notified he is the target of a federal investigation.

Commission Chairman Mitchell Rubin said in a Saturday letter to Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell that he was taking an immediate and indefinite leave to deal with unspecified personal matters, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported.

Rubin's wife, Ruth Arnao, last week was convicted of corruption charges along with her former boss, one-time State Sen. Vincent Fumo. Three days later the FBI notified Rubin he is being investigated in what analysts say is "mop-up" effort from the Fumo case, the newspaper said.

Observers say Rubin, 57, who owns a court papers process serving business, for many years was a top aide and close friend to Fumo. Along with Arnao, Rubin often spent vacations with the Philadelphia Democrat, frequently described as one of the most powerful politicians in state government.

Rubin has served on the Turnpike Commission for 11 years, the Inquirer said.