Former City Manager Robert Rizzo among 8 Bell officials arrested
Former Bell City Manager Robert Rizzo -– whose nearly $800,000 salary sparked widespread outrage and intense public scrutiny of city practices -– was among those arrested Tuesday morning in a sweep by the Los Angeles County district attorney's office.
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.
For two months, the Los Angeles County district attorney's office and state and federal authorities have investigated Bell, where high salaries for Rizzo and other top officials prompted calls for resignations. 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 is 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.
"This is the beginning of the healing process for our city," said Councilman Lorenzo Velez, the only council member not arrested Tuesday. "It's time to move forward and continue with the reforms we've been trying to set in place."
-- Ruben Vives and Jeff Gottlieb
Photo: Robert Rizzo is taken into custody outside his Huntington Beach home Tuesday morning. Credit: Robert Lachman / Los Angeles Times; Below: Daily Pilot
EDITOR'S PICKS:
I think they should examine the officials and high pay employees at the City Colleges in CA. It's long overdue. The self-grabing and incompetent self-appointed people at various city colleges are not only pilferating our tax money but trashing education for the students.
Posted by: joan | September 21, 2010 at 02:49 PM
Rizzo has mafia written all over his mug!
Posted by: Joe | September 21, 2010 at 02:58 PM
I cannot believe the audacity of these so-called politicians who are supposed to serve in their community's best interest. Looks like he ate most of his earnings...literally. I wonder, though, if he will have to pay the money back to the community? I sure hope so.
Posted by: Joann | September 21, 2010 at 03:17 PM
Also, I wonder how much prison time they're facing? I read somewhere that Rizzo is facing a whopping 52 felony counts!!
Posted by: Joann | September 21, 2010 at 03:21 PM
Rizzo was certainly living large. That waistline has to be at least 60".
Posted by: Mike White | September 21, 2010 at 05:14 PM
8 Bell Democrats who will not vote in November.
Posted by: Joe | September 21, 2010 at 05:24 PM
Rizzo is a democrat, of course! look at him, I think he used all that money to eat like a piggy.
Posted by: obama-sucks | September 22, 2010 at 10:37 AM
That bell police chief needs to be arrested
as a public official/ public employee giving
the people of bell massive citations that lead
to towing...
whatta revenue of funds coming in...
even the police personnel under the level of
chief said they were under orders to do so.
Posted by: 3825You | September 22, 2010 at 05:07 PM
your awesome
Posted by: kayla and jessica | October 07, 2010 at 07:18 AM