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

[LADebbie]

I hope they lose everything! I hope every newspaper begins to investigate every politician and public officials and re-claim their jobs as watch dogs for society vs lap dogs to politicians, officials, and the news spin cycle!

[Bored I]

Arrested is not the same as being CONVICTED!!!

Best of luck on that DA Steve Cooly.

[Gonzalo Gomez]

I think is about time that these public official are accountable for what they do.
I grew up in Bell and also graduated fromBell High School.
all along we were suspicious of Mr Rizzo, he had that power trip on him.

Good Job.. please check all public officials in all cities,we can not afford these abuses . remember California is hurting more than ever.. I know I am.

[john]

This is a great story to take the eye of the Wall Street executives who sucked $13 trillion out of the US ecomomy with the fraudulent CDO squared and CDS's which Warren Buffett labelled "weapons of mass destruction" at least 5 years ago.

That means that the Lllod Blankfein's and Hank Paulson's of the world have duplicated this $5,500,000 fleecing 13, 700,000 separate times to Americans. What happens to them? With the billions of taxpayer bailout money their firms got, they used it for lobbyists to change the financial reform package so that they can fleece us again, and figure out how to pay bonuses to themselves. How about some arrests where it really counts?

[Mike]

You realize of course that none of this official malfeasance could have occured without the active participation of Bell's city attorney. I'm waiting to see him do the perp walk.

[daniel.]

(WOWWWWWW?) DIDN'T NOW THAT''' TO THE AUTHOR PRINTED LIKE IT BEN SAID? BECAUSE SOME WORDS ARE SAID FROM THE HEART . WORDS, GOOD WORDS, IMPORTANT WORDS, THEY'RE NOTHING MORE THAN (WORDS) UNLESS WE ACTUALLY ;LIVE BY THEM? HAVE THE COURAGE &COMMITMENT TO POST IT THE WAY OF THE HEART &TRUTHS.

[Pascual hernandez]

THANK YOU LA TIMES...IF IT WASN'T FOR YOU COOLEY AND BROWN WOULD STILL BE NAPPING.

[Steve]

Everyone in the city of Bell ought to call L.A. Times and subscribe today!! They are the ones that made this happen. Thank them by starting a subscription today!!!

[stich]

this is good news. hopefully cooley will start looking at other cities that are taking advanage of its citzens. also people who are running for office and lying about their residence, living in another city other than the city they are running should go to jail....

[Catherine Kennedy-Reichwein]

...now they should visit Cambria California....and clean it up....! Bravo for justice for the people!

Peace and God Bless America forever!

[Bill]

If it doesn't say **** "REPUBLICAN POLITICIANS!!!"****

You can bet that they are ALL DEMOCRATS.

[Bill]

If it doesn't say ****REPUBLICAN POLITICIANS**** IN BOLD LETTERS .....

it's safe to assume that they are ALL DEMOCRAT POLITICIANS.

[Goldenfoxx]

Okay, so when do they start arresting at the White House, Congress and House of Reps?

[RunningWithScissors]

Congratulations to Times writers Jeff Gottlieb, Ruben Vives, Jack Leonard, Richard Winton, Paloma Esquivel, and others for their diligent work in breaking and pursuing this story now and into the future as it reaches it's final conclusion. Hopefully, these criminals will be punished both criminally and civilly to the maximum extent that the law allows, because it is what the citizens of Bell, Los Angeles County, and the state of California are asking for.

Now the Los Angeles Times should shift its focus to some of the neighboring cities and examine the improprieties that have taken place there. The Times has already uncovered some of the corruption that exist in Vernon, Maywood, Commerce, and Industry. Let's get these problems out on the table and cripple the organized crime machines cleverly disguised as local governments.

Thank you, Los Angeles Times, for putting meaning back into words "... government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."

[Bill]

Don't thank Jerry Brown ... Isn't he about to be indicted on pension fraud?
You gotta remember that he too is s DEMOCRAT.

[RunningWithScissors]

And I forgot to mention, the Times' lead writers for the Bell story should be considered for a Pulitzer. This was simply a great piece of investigative journalism.

[Blooney]

How about Santa Ana next? Something smells there too.

[LennX6]

Now I see why a battering ram was needed at Rizzo's house, in able to widen it to get him out!

[jack]

Thank you JERRY BROWN!!!

And on a related note...in the news today:

"Pierre Omidyar, who created EBay and hired Meg Whitman as his company's chief executive, said Tuesday that he would not endorse her and would find it "difficult" to vote for her for governor if he still lived in California."

Poor old Meg...she can buy everything. Except respect and trust.

[Bill]

Those arrested definitely did wrong but let's do some math...8 people getting an extra $400,000 each more than they were worth...Lots of wasted money, sort of...but consider this...

Multiply the MILLIONS of city, country, state and federal workers, who are making 50%, 60% or 70% more than their private sector counterparts that do the SAME JOB.
Consider also that a serious % of those jobs are not even needed in the first place...

I'm all for going after this small group of 8 but people need to GET A CLUE...this isn't an isolated incident...Its just a matter of degree.

The millions making 50% to 70% more are costing the public a lot more.

[Mr. Crowley]

We need to arrest Barney Frank, Chris Dodd, and George Bush (yup for doing nothing about it).

[just a thought]

JUSTICE!!!!!!!!!!!! Now they need to come up to Palmdale and Lancaster, investigate the Sheriffs department for conspiring to conceal evidence, refusing to investigate cases involving their own, and R. Rex Paris too!

[Jack Sheepman]

I glad they finally picked these crooks up. I had just about lost all faith in the system for letting them skate. While they are at it be sure to pick up they crook that runs Vernon too.

[Scott]

Nobody ever mentions that they are DEMOCRATS! That's my ONLY gripe here L.A. Times ----- Besides, that, great job!!!

[Venividivici1000]

NOW- when is the D.A. and feds going after the most corrupt of ALL LOS ANGELES COUNTY PROBATION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!