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Bell City Council Officials

Two Bell, CA Officials Resign After Salary Scandal, Third Takes Pay Cut

Jillian Rayfield | October 11, 2010, 4:49PM


Bell, CA Officials George Cole, Robert Rizzo, Pier'Angela Spaccia, Victor Bello, George Mirabal, Teresa Jacobo, Oscar Hernandez, and Luis Artiga

Two city officials in Bell, California have stepped down from their posts, and another has agreed to take a 61 percent pay cut the Los Angeles Times reports, following a salary inflation scandal that led to the arrest of eight city officials in September.

The officials are accused of using public funds to inflate their salaries, some making up to $96,000 a year for part-time elected positions -- 20 times the national average. Former City Manager Robert Rizzo banked nearly $800,000 a year.

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Topics: Bell City Council Officials, Bell, CA, Jerry Brown, Robert Rizzo, Steve Cooley

Bell, CA

Arraignment Of Bell City Officials Postponed; Two Making Bail After Proving Funds Were Acquired Legally

Jillian Rayfield | September 22, 2010, 4:59PM


Bell, CA Officials George Cole, Robert Rizzo, Pier'Angela Spaccia, Victor Bello, George Mirabal, Teresa Jacobo, Oscar Hernandez, and Luis Artiga

In a hearing today, two of the eight Bell city officials arrested yesterday after a salary scandal in which they allegedly inflated their salaries were released on bail. But first they had to prove that their bail money was obtained legally. The officials are accused of using public funds to pad their salaries, some making as much as $96,000 a year for part-time elected positions.

The arraignment for the officials was postponed until October 21, with the attorney for former Bell City Manager Robert Rizzo requesting the delay because his client "has been in a medical facility" and had not yet had a chance to review the 53 charges against him. Rizzo is accused of banking nearly $800,000 a year.

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Topics: Bell, CA, Robert Rizzo, Steve Cooley

Bell, CA

District Attorney Calls Bell Scandal 'Corruption On Steroids'

Jillian Rayfield | September 21, 2010, 2:54PM


Former Bell, CA City Manager Robert Rizzo, after a March DUI arrest

In a press conference moments ago, Los Angeles County District Attorney Steve Cooley announced charges against the eight Bell, California city officials who were arrested today after they inflated their salaries, allegedly using around $5.5 million in public funds.

Former Bell City Manager Robert Rizzo, who allegedly banked close to $800,000 a year, was charged with "53 counts of misappropriation of public funds and conflict of interest," according to the Los Angeles Times.

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Topics: Bell City Council Officials, Bell, CA, Robert Rizzo, Steve Cooley

Bell, CA

LA Times: At Least Eight Bell City Officials Arrested Today After Salary Scandal

Jillian Rayfield | September 21, 2010, 12:54PM


An angry crowd at the Bell, CA City Council meeting

The Los Angeles Times is reporting that at least eight city officials from Bell, California, have been arrested today, with L.A. County District Attorney Steve Cooley set to announce criminal charges related to the officials inflating their salaries.

Some City Council members in the working class California community were allegedly pulling in $96,000 a year for part-time elected positions, amounting to 20 times the national average for similar positions. Former City Manager Robert Rizzo, who was reportedly among those arrested, banked nearly $800,000 a year. The DA expanded the probe in July to include allegations of voter fraud and possible conflicts of interest involving city businesses.

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Topics: Bell, CA, Jerry Brown, Robert Rizzo, Steve Cooley

Bell, CA

County DA Expanding Probe Of Bell, CA To Include Allegations Of Voter Fraud

Jillian Rayfield | July 28, 2010, 12:56PM

The Los Angeles County District Attorney's office has expanded its probe of the city of Bell, widening the investigation from a scandal over inflated salaries to include allegations of voter fraud and possible conflicts of interest involving city businesses.

Bell City Council members have taken a lot of heat this month after it was revealed that many of them had inflated their salaries to $96,000 a year for part-time elected positions, with one city staff member banking nearly $800,000 a year.

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Topics: Bell City Council Officials, Bell, CA, California, Jerry Brown, Los Angeles, Steve Cooley

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