Grand jury considers new charges against Bell's Robert Rizzo, Angela Spaccia

A Los Angeles grand jury is considering additional charges against former Bell City Administrator Robert Rizzo and his assistant, Angela Spaccia.

Rizzo and Spaccia -- along with six other current and former Bell officials -- already face charges in a sweeping public-corruption case prosecutors filed last year.

In a copy of a letter from the grand jury to attorneys in the case, obtained by the Los Angeles Times, the grand jury indicates it is looking into a supplemental retirement package that was far more generous to Rizzo and Spaccia than other city employees. Such a package, the letter indicated, could constitute a conflict of interest by the pair.

The grand jury also is looking into the contract they put together to hire former Bell Police Chief Randy Adams, which the letter claims was not approved by the City Council. The grand jury also suggested that false documents were created to hide Adams' true salary.

Russell Petti, Spaccia's attorney, said the possible charges were baseless.

"The piecemeal nature of the district attorney's office's investigation reveals that they are more in love with the process of announcing charges than reaching the merits of the case," added James Spertus, Rizzo's attorney.

Adams has not been charged with a crime.

The Times reported in September that Rizzo designed a supplemental pension plan for himself and 40 other Bell city officials that will provide them large taxpayer-financed retirement packages.

The supplemental plan was paid for entirely by Bell tax funds. It allowed Rizzo, who was charged last week with public corruption, and other city employees and all City Council members to circumvent retirement limits set by California. Over the last seven years, the City Council approved increases in the retirement pay for those 41 officials that could raise pensions by about 85%.

The increases mean that Rizzo could receive a pension of nearly $1 million a year, according to Times estimates. Spaccia could receive more than $375,000 a year, compared with the previous estimate of $250,000.

Rizzo and Spaccia stepped down last summer after The Times revealed huge salaries earned by top officials including Rizzo, who was set to earn $1.6 million last year.

RELATED:

Bell officials' arraignment postponed by judge

Rizzo had his $80,000 loan replenished each year

Bell pays $750,000 to settle sex assault by former officer

-- Corina Knoll

Photo: Rizzo and Spaccia in court. Credit: L.A. Times

Comments

[Astonished]

His lawyer said that Rizzo can't wait to get back into the courtroom!

Oh, Yeah! He looks REALLY happy to be there. Sorry wanna be Mafioso!

[thecanimal]

Rizzo is now working as a consultant for Goldman Sachs.

[davidpaul]

i hope they are looking at the whole bunch, along with those 2 who admins who were making 200k+ and got immunity by the idiot prosecutors...wheres the justice...criminals need to go to jail...thieves...crooks...gotta watch them all...public thieves...crooks...our tax dollars.

[ten 29 me]

Imagine that false documents hiding "MR.ETHICS" Ex Chief Randy Adams'salary.SHOCKING!!!!!!!I think that "HONEST" D.A.Steve Cooley should put that poor excuse for a law enforcement officer away.I think that Adams knew exactley what his plan was ,and that was to blatantly and with total disregard to rob the same community that he was hired to protect.I wonder if "HONEST COOLEY" ever thanked his best friend Randy Adams for costing him the election for Attorney General?

[Adams and Rizzo are partners]

Get Adams in jail now!!! As acting law officer he should have known better and its quite obvious he was out for himself.

[Paul Espinoza]

Petti and Spertus, when Rizzo and Spaccia are doing hard time, you know who's gonna remember NOT to go to for legal counsel?

Anybody but Petti and Spertus.

[San Caytano Tom]

My God, Randy Adams interfered with a police investigation, his detective was securing criminal evidence on Rizzo. Rizzo is the guy who would allow Randy Adams to take a tax free medical disability retirement.

This is after Adams ran in the Glendale Dash, ran in the Baker to Vegas relay race and then claimed a foot, neck and back injury. Oh yeah, he also was taking a spinning class at a private gym in Simi.

Is this the same Randy Adams who was rejected by LAPD in 1972 due to a physical examination of having back issues. What or how did he cover a pre-existing medical condition?

Adams did he not commit conspiracy with Angela to hid his true salary, embezzlement of public funds and fraud?

Did he not aid Rizzo and Angela?

Tom east of Makaha