Former Bell, CA City Manager Robert Rizzo, after a March DUI arrest
Posted on 09/21/2010 12:34:11 PM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach
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.
According to the Times, "Angela Spaccia, former assistant city manager; Mayor Oscar Hernandez; councilmembers George Mirabal, Teresa Jacobo and Luis Artiga; and former councilmembers George Cole and Victor Bello" were also arrested.
In his press conference, Cooley called the inflated salaries "corruption on steroids," and said the officials used public money "as their own piggy bank that they then looted at will."
Rizzo, who was also arrested in March for a DUI, had his bail set at $3.2 million. Bail for the other officials was between $130,000 to $377,500.
I wonder how many investigations this spawns...
It should be bunches...but that is just my guess.
They are dimoKKKRATS. Not mentioned by the media.
These fellers ain’t quite as smooth or smart as the fellers from Chicago or D.C.
Bell officials arrested, prosecutors set to file criminal charges (including Rizzo)
KFI just now reporting arrestees will appear tomorrow in Criminal Court.
Numbers...5.5 million dollars....
With as much money as he was stealing, you’d think he could afford to buy a neck.
Bell officials arrested as prosecutors are set to file criminal charges
KFI just reporting a battering ram was used at the Rizzo home.*****************************EXCERPT*******************************
Story posted 2010.09.21 at 09:31 AM PDT
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.
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. Authorities were in Bell Tuesday morning making arrests, but the identities of all those taken into custody were not immediately available. A source said four council members were taken into custody. A witness told The Times he saw Councilman Luis Artiga taken away in handcuffs Tuesday morning.
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.
Bell city manager received alcohol counseling after March DUI arrest
***************************************EXCERPT**********************************
The city manager of Bell, under fire for being perhaps the highest-paid city administrator in the state, was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving near his home in Huntington Beach earlier this year.
Robert Rizzo, 56, was arrested in March with a blood-alcohol level of 0.28, more than three times the legal limit, in the 1900 block of Pine Street in Huntington Beach at 9:50 p.m. March 6, said Huntington Beach Police Lt. Russell Reinhart.
A resident called police after a man, alleged to be Rizzo, crashed into their mailbox and then drove into an alley, Reinhart said. Rizzo, who was charged with misdemeanor drunk driving, faces a maximum sentence of six months in jail, said Farrah Emami, a spokeswoman for the Orange County district attorney’s office. Rizzo pleaded not guilty to both charges June 8 and is expected back in court Aug. 5 at the West Justice Center in Westminster.
According to court papers, Rizzo sought alcohol abuse counseling after the arrest.
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