Vince Fumo was once believed to be the most powerful politician in Pennsylvania.

Today he has a new title – convicted felon.

A federal jury yesterday convicted the former state senator from South Philadelphia of all 137 corruption counts filed against him. One after another, the single word guilty rang out in a federal courtroom. It took about 13 minutes for all of them to be proclaimed.

Fumo’s trial stretched last month, starting last October. But it must have seemed like a heartbeat as opposed to those 13 minutes that likely stopped Fumo’s heart with each audible declaration.

His co-hort, Ruth Arnao, also was convicted of all 45 counts against her.

They both are looking at some serious jail time. For Fumo, the fall is almost unfathomable. And maybe that’s the enduring lesson for our public servants.

You are elected to serve your constituents, not yourself. And if you ignore that basic concept, you do so at your own risk.

Very little happened in Harrisburg over the past two decades without gaining the imprimatur of Vince Fumo. He was one of the state’s ultimate power brokers.

They say absolute power corrupts absolutely. Never does that ring truer than in the case of Fumo.

Did he do a lot of good along the way? Unquestionably. That does not remove the stain left on his name, as well as his tenure in public service.

Vince Fumo helped a lot of people, but he helped himself even more.

The gravy train is over. Fumo is likely going to jail.

The man once referred to as “the Vince of Darkness” for the way he wielded power in the state Capitol, has been brought down by his own actions.

He is certainly not the first public servant to be so tainted. He very likely will not be the last.

But his case should serve as a wake-up call to those so tempted. Eventually, you will get caught.

After his conviction yesterday, a broken Fumo offered only this comment: Heartbroken.

I don’t know how much heart is involved, but Fumo certainly is broken, as was the system he abused for so long.

The real heartbreak in this case should be reserved for the people Fumo was elected to serve. Instead he decided all too often to serve himself.

The heartbroken Fumo is due for a transplant. From a life of opulence and power to a barren existence behind bars.

Vince Fumo is guilty. One hundred and thirty-seven times guilty. To many – maybe even himself – Vince Fumo was considered not only someone who made the laws, but somehow above it.

Not anymore.