Rizzo faces 53 counts; Bell was 'corruption on steroids,' D.A. Cooley says [Updated]

Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. Steve Cooley filed charges against eight current and former Bell officials Tuesday, alleging that they misappropriated $5.5 million in public funds. Robert Rizzo, Bell's former city manager, has been charged with 53 counts of misappropriation of public funds and conflict of interest.

The charges come after a dramatic morning in which authorities swept through Bell and other cities, arresting former and current Bell officials.

Among those arrested were Rizzo; Angela Spaccia, former assistant city manager; Mayor Oscar Hernandez; councilmembers George Mirabal, Teresa Jacobo and Luis Artiga; and former councilmembers George Cole and Victor Bello.

"This is corruption on steroids," Cooley said. 

[Updated at 11:28 a.m.: Cooley said officials used the city's tax dollars "as their own piggy bank that they then looted at will."

He said that councilmembers, who earned salaries of nearly $100,000, received $1.2 million for "phantom meetings" -- many which never occurred or lasted only a minute or two.  

Police Chief Randy Adams, who also stepped down after The Times reported he was earning $457,000, was not arrested.

"Being paid excessive amounts is not a crime," Cooley said, noting that the investigation is ongoing.

Bail for Rizzo has been set at $3.2 million. Bail for the others ranges from $130,000 to $377,500.]

Rizzo, whose high salary sparked the outrage that led to the investigations of the city, was among those arrested in the sweep. At 10 a.m., officials emerged from Rizzo's luxury home in Huntington Beach. Rizzo, handcuffed, was escorted into a black SUV. 

In Bell, a neighbor of Hernandez said authorities used a battering ram on his front door after he failed to answer the door.

"They broke the door down," said the neighbor, who only gave his name as Jose. "They knocked down the door and they brought him out in cuffs."

The city of Bell released a statement about the arrests, calling it a "sad day" for the city.

“Given the sheer volume of charges levied against former Bell Chief Administrative Officer Robert Rizzo and former Assistant CAO Angela Spaccia by the district attorney, it is clear that Rizzo and Spaccia were at the root of the cancer that has afflicted the City of Bell. Also, it is a sad day for Bell that four current and two former members of the council also have been arrested. I am prepared to double down our efforts to continue to restore order, establish good government reforms, and to ensure that Bell is providing needed services to its residents,” said Pedro Carrillo, interim city manager.

Outside City Hall, about two dozen residents gathered as news of the arrests spread. One man used a bullhorn to broadcast the Queen song, "Another One Bites the Dust." Members of the crowd laughed and applauded, happy to see arrests in the scandal.

For two months, the Los Angeles County district attorney's office and state and federal authorities have investigated Bell, where high salaries earned by Rizzo and other top officials have sparked widespread outrage. The Times reported last month that Rizzo was set to earn more than $1.5 million in 2010. Additionally, he gave loans totaling $1.6 million to more than 50 city officials, including himself.

-- Jack Leonard, Jeff Gottlieb, Ruben Vives and Richard Winton

Credit: Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. Steve Cooley announces the arrests of eight current and former Bell city officials. Credit: Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times

Photos: Arrests in Bell

Comments

[al]

Why wasn't the chief of police for the city of Bell arrested along with Rizzo etc. Is is because he's a cop? Just wondering, I guess just cops protecting cops and prosecutors allowing it to happen.

[Citizen of Bell]

It's interesting who Cooley DIDN'T arrest this morning. His good friend Randy "The Million Dollar Chief" Adams. Cooley knew about the Bell scandal over a year ago and did NOTHING because it involved his close friend Adams and now Cooley is pretending he is fighting crime in Bell. Adams is up to his neck in this scandal and yet Cooley is giving him a free pass. Why wasn't Adams arrested too?

[Marley]

I applaud these arrests. I only wonder, Mr. Brown and Mr. Cooley, if it not for the coming November elections would they have come so quickly or at all? I do hope other aspiring political crooks take note and realize that what is normal for your banana republic countries will not work here; at least not while some of us are still paying attention and have loud voices. Good job LAT! Now please start investigating Villar, Parks (nepotism run amuck) and the rest at L.A. City Hall.

[Bing Doty]

Corruption usually happens when people vote for ethnicity.

[Sarah]

I worry about those extreme pensions. Has the state attorney's office found a way to stop the payment?

[Josh]

Dear LA Times,

Great job on following this Bell corruption story. Your reportage definitely helped to bring these criminals to justice.

I note that this story doesn't mention what party the corrupt politicians belonged to- could you please provide the voters with that information?

A search of the web reveals that Robert Rizzo (the ringleader?) was a Democrat. What about the other seven who were arrested? It seems like information that local voters would want to know when hitting the polls in November.

Thanks for the great work running these vermin down,

Josh

[al's eye]

Al, try reading it again, or read this:

Police Chief Randy Adams, who also stepped down after The Times reported he was earning $457,000, was not arrested.

"Being paid excessive amounts is not a crime," Cooley said, noting that the investigation is ongoing.

Straight from the article. Read better.

[leal mommie]

it is about time, FEDERAL time............. have fun and dont drop the soap

[tvskr]

The citizens of Bell are as much at fault as the dirty polititians. We cannot be apathetic and expect others to run our government. We The People run the government and we all need to stay involved and understand what is happening and where our money is going.

[Village idiot]

I'm sure the Chief of police will never get arrested on this one since he is a cop and cops can do what ever they want....

[Bell PD]

Why wasn't Cooley's good friend Randy "The Million Dollar Chief" Adams arrested? Cooley is not being totally honest here regarding the NON arrest of Adams. It pays to be friends of Cooley!

[Dave]

That's reassuring, current interim city manager of Bell uses gambling terminology to describe the way he will improve political reform. Interesting.

"I am prepared to double down our efforts to continue to restore order, establish good government reforms, and to ensure that Bell is providing needed services to its residents,” said Pedro Carrillo, interim city manager.

[Bell Resident]

Based on Ethicity? Excuse me but 1/2 of the people arrested were WHITE and George Cole placed ALL the current latino concil in Bell and Maywood into power.

[cshargeit]

if ever was a story to make one dance in the street and shout from the rafters.... mysterious how subdued the coverage is.

[August]

YEEHAW!

[Dennis Jong]

"Corruption usually happens when people vote for ethnicity."
-Bing Doty

Why don't you come out into the open and say this in front of city hall and the residents of Bell instead of hiding your bigoted comment behind the safety of anonymity?

This has nothing to do with ethnicity. This has to do with a culture of corruption that brewed in this city. Period.

[Holy Cow!]

"I am prepared to double down our efforts to continue to restore order, establish good government reforms, and to ensure that Bell is providing needed services to its residents,” said Pedro Carrillo, interim city manager".

Holy Cow! "double down"??? What a poor choice of words with all the corrupt gambling that has been going on in Bell! I think I would keep an eye on this guy!

Will be interesting to see if all the other city salaries get posted. Usually those at the top have to pay those at the bottom very well for their silence. Yup, it should prove interesting.

[August]

1000's of MORE CITIES TO GO!

[ELA DAVE]

Had to happen, but this will not sway my vote this November elections.

[Pmitton]

LA TIMES... YOU GUY DID GREAT WORK ON THIS STORY!!! now what about that chief of POLICE!!! He should lose his badge!!!also what about the pensions?? They have stopped as well correct? If not..I smell dirty money!!!

[Joseph]

Still waiting for the LA Times to report they were all Democrats. They were ripping off their hispanic voters.

[Steve H]

When is Randy Adams returning his new silver Chrysler 300 to the City - was the $40,000 car included in his comp package? Did he de-activate his personal plate blocking, a priveledge provided to active duty Police, since he is no longer a cop?? One has to wonder...

[Phineas]

Nice to see that "guilty before being proven innocent" is alive and well. So far, I haven't seen anything resembling proof that a crime was committed. No, I'm not suggesting there were no crimes, only that none has been proven in court yet. Perhaps there is probable cause, which is necessary to arrest. But an arrest and a conviction are two very different things. One last thing, and again, this doesn't suggest that the D.A. doesn't have a strong case--he may indeed--but isn't this the same D.A. who filed charges against an out-of-state woman for making up a phony internet I.D., as part of a retribution plot against one of her daughter's friends? I hope not, because that D.A. was certainly sick the day they taught law at law school.

[MacTeam 2010]

whoo hoo!!

[Claemor]

It took some digging, but all 8 are listed as Democrats. In my book, all 8 are simply listed as politicians.

I believe the Orange County Register was the only paper to include this fact when the story broke. They may still be the only paper to report it.