Bell officials arrested as prosecutors are set to file criminal charges [Updated]

At least eight city of Bell officials were arrested Tuesday morning, a source said, as L.A. County Dist. Atty. Steve Cooley prepared to announce criminal charges in the municipal salary scandal.

[Updated at 10 a.m.: Former Bell City Manager Robert Rizzo, whose high salary sparked the outrage that led to the investigations of the city, was among those arrested in the sweep. No details have been released, but a source not authorized to speak publicly about the case said that Rizzo; former Assistant City Manager Angela Spaccia; Mayor Oscar Hernandez; Councilmembers Luis Artiga, Teresa Jacobo and George Mirabal; and former Councilmembers George Cole and Victor Bello were among those arrested.

[Updated at 11:22 p.m.: Cooley filed charges against eight Bell officials Tuesday, alleging that they misappropriated $5.5 million in public funds. Rizzo has been charged with 53 counts of misappropriation of public funds and conflict of interest.

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

"This is corruption on steroids," Cooley said.]

The charges are expected to be detailed at a morning press conference, according to a source with knowledge of the case who was not authorized to comment publicly. A witness told The Times he saw Councilman Luis Artiga taken away in handcuffs Tuesday morning.

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."]

For two months, the Los Angeles County district attorney's office and state and federal authorities have investigated Bell, where high salaries earned by former City Manager Robert 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.

Cooley has said his office was examining whether the various financial transactions in Bell amounted to thefts of public funds. The office is also looking into allegations of voter fraud and whether the high salaries earned by Rizzo and others were legal.

Last week, California Atty. Gen. Jerry Brown filed a lawsuit against current and former Bell city leaders demanding that their pay contracts be nullified and that they pay back some of their salaries and pension benefits. Artiga was not one of those named in the lawsuit, and he said he was working with investigators.

Rizzo and other top city officials stepped down in July after the salary scandal broke. City Council members — who were earning nearly $100,000 a year — significantly slashed their pay.

The full audit by state Controller John Chiang's office has previously found that Bell illegally overtaxed residents and businesses by $5.6 million. In addition to the retirement funds, Rizzo received two city loans of $80,000, officials said.

After The Times disclosed the loans, city officials said they were suspending the loan program and were trying to determine how many of the loans were repaid.

-- Jack Leonard, Ruben Vives and Richard Winton

Photo: Photo of police outside Bell councilmember Geroge Mirabal's home Tuesday morning. The photo was supplied by a Bell resident who wished to remain anonymous. Below: Rizzo under arrest. Daily Pilot.

Comments

[Astralis]

I don't understand. These officials were elected by the citizens of the city and would have been easily reelected.

Bell is run how Detroit and other great cities in America are run so I don't see anything strange here.

[jvon]

These folks thought they lived in Mexico where the money all goes to the corupt officials. GO JOB !!! Get the others as well before this Mexico trait spreads.

[jack]

Thank you, Jerry Brown.

[steve jackson]

Wanna bet if any of these people had been republicans it would be in the headline. Oddly, their political persuasion is not mentioned...hmmmm

[KethaLily]

Great investigating, and letting the truth be known!

[DeMax]

How's that multi-cultural thing working out for you all? Arrrriiiiiiiba

[newsreader]

You wanted to know the party affiliations of those Bell criminals? Here's the answer: http://www.anncoulter.com/cgi-local/printer_friendly.cgi?article=381

I almost had a heart attack from that surprise.

[Chudy]

This is funny and sad. Sad for the trusting souls in Bell who voted for these crooks. Funny because now it's the Bonfire of the Vanities (credit to Tom Wolfe). Jerry Brown a DEMOCRAT is now prosecuting all these Bell leaders who are DEMOCRATS, throwing them under the bus to make himself look good to voters. Meg Whitman, not being in office yet, has no power to do anything about this. It's a show, people. A show. After the elections, this will go to the back burner.

[Hollywood Kev]

It's about time!

[Hollywood Kev]

It's about time!

[Ben L.]

No, this will not make a good movie. Somehow Edwards James Olmos would end up directing it with himself in it. Sorry to say, all his movies suck. Except Stand and Deliver. but even then the acting is hard to bare.

[Brian]

8 down, about 5,000,000 more cheating officials nationwide to go.

[jack]

THANK YOU Jerry Brown!!!

[mac691]

Anytime now, Jerry Brown should start to get on this. I expect an indictment from Brown sometime within the next 10 years, after all appeals have been exhausted, Jerky Brown will get right on it. That's it, Jerry, keep investigating those Dems. Oopps. Sorry, I had Jerry Brown confused with an "honest' politician. my bad.

[Michelle]

Great job, LA Times. This is Pulitzer Prize-winning coverage. And I doubt these arrests would have happened without your outstanding investigative journalism.

[Thatguy]

So what political affiliation were these crooks?

[Steve]

Those crooked Republicans! What? Not Republicans? How can that be?

[Steven M.]

Yes Steve Cooley... Where are the charges and specifications? These people had a legal / lawful contract. Although they may have crossed the line, immorally, show me where they violated the which and what statutes? Sounds like someone in your office "hot dogged-it," without your knowledge, since there wasn't a prepared press release.

If it was a crime to be a "rectal cavity," we could stuff most of the California State Legislature, most of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, ALL of the Los Angeles City Council and Mayor Villaraigosa in state prison, as lifer's.

This reminds me of this scene out of Casablanca (1942)

Rick: How can you close me up? On what grounds?

Captain Renault: I'm shocked, shocked to find that gambling is going on in here!

[a croupier hands Renault a pile of money]

Croupier: Your winnings, sir.

Captain Renault: [soft voice] Oh, thank you very much.
[Then yells]

Captain Renault: Everybody out at once!

[yoga2010]

This is great news! Sacramento next.

[Josh]

Dear LA Times,

Thank you for following this important story and bringing the corruption of Bell's elected officials to light. Can't beat the disinfecting power of sunshine!

By the way, the story doesn't mention, and I can't find anywhere: what were the political party affiliations of those politicians arrested in this sweep? It would be good to know before going into the next election.

A little searching turns up that Robert Rizzo is a Democrat. What about the other seven?

Thanks,

Josh

[anita]

When are they going to arrest the likes of these suckers in Washington, Senate, Congress?!?

[Kurly]

I hope there were some actual laws broken. I'd hate to see a good witch hunt go to waste.

[JUSTA HATER]

Great Job L.A. Times, EXCELLENT reporting.

[trock]

According to the OC Register all five of the Bell crooks were Democrats - no surprise there!

[MikeD]

Great work guys.
Send us(LA TIMES) a PULITZER :)