Jailed Bell officials must prove legality of funds for bail, making release harder

LA Times ^ | September 22, 2010 | Richard Winton and Jack Leonard

[Beaten Valve]

Eight current and former Bell city officials charged in a sweeping public corruption case will make their first court appearance Wednesday morning.

All the officials remained in county jail overnight.

And getting out on bail might prove difficult for the highly paid officials because prosecutors are requiring that the official prove that their bail money is not coming from ill-gotten income.

Officials said they wanted to make sure they didn't use money from Bell to get out of jail. This bail restriction is typically used in organized crime cases.

Among those charged was Robert Rizzo, the former city manager of Bell, whose compensation package led the way with annual salary and benefits totaling more than $1.5 million. Prosecutors accused him of illegally writing his own employment contracts and steering nearly $1.9 million in unauthorized city loans to himself and others. He was booked into Los Angeles County Jail and was being held on $3.2-million bail.

The charges follow months of nationwide outrage and renewed debate over public employee compensation since The Times reported in July that the city's leaders were among the nation's highest paid municipal officials.

Cooley described Rizzo as the "unelected and unaccountable czar" of Bell, accusing him of going to elaborate lengths to keep his salary secret. Prosecutors alleged that Rizzo gave himself huge pay raises without the City Council's approval.

"This was calculated greed and theft accomplished by deceit and secrecy," Cooley said.

Rizzo's attorney, James W. Spertus, said the charges came as no surprise and were politically motivated by Cooley, who is running for California attorney general.

"The allegations are mistaken," Spertus said. "They are factually untrue in many readily provable ways."

[Beaten Valve]

This will be interesting to follow.

Robert Rizzo's arraigment has been delayed today because his attorney said that he has been in a medical facility.

[TexasCajun]

No party name of the 8 anywhere.

So that means all 8 of these indicted indiviuals must be, you got it, DEMOCRATS!!!

[cripplecreek]

I still gotta blame the people of Bell. The crap couldn’t have happened under a spotlight.

My elected township government knows I’m paying attention because I question them on the decisions they make.

[forgotten man]

Most of them look like they have relatives in the Mexican Mafia.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Was listening to KFI yesterday ....guess he has packed 285 lbs onto a frame that only goes up to 5' 4"....

They said there was a concern regarding the facilities at the Facility housing the Bell City Council for their meetings to decide on what to do about the city business.

:>))

[absalom01]

Had to dig a little bit for the rest of the names:

The other city officials arrested were council members Teresa Jacobo, Luis Artiga and George Mirabal; former council members George Cole and Victor Bello; and former Assistant City Manager Angela Spaccia.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Tim Conway jr was discussing that last night on KFI.

[GonzoGOP]

I wonder if this case has anything to do with why Mayor Daley of Chicago has decided not to run for another term. He might be retiring to visit his loved ones in the Cayman Islands.

[absalom01]

The system only works when the citizens are actively involved, and take responsibility for their government’s actions. Just wait, and watch, this isn’t over yet, as there are plenty of additional shoes to drop: Maywood, Vernon, Cudahy ...

[cripplecreek]

Tim Conway jr

Son of the Tim Conway?

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

This morning's Long Beach Press Telegram:

8 Bell officials to face judge in corruption case

This combo made with booking photos provided by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department shows from top left, Luis Artiga, Victor Bello, George Cole, and Oscar Hernandez; from bottom left, Teresa Jacobo, George Mirabal, Robert Rizzo, and Peir'Angela Spaccia. The eight are charged with taking more than $5.5 million from the working-class suburb of Bell, Calif. in a scandal that triggered nationwide outrage and calls for more transparency in government. (AP Photo/Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department)

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Yes.

[dfwgator]

[cripplecreek]

Hardly a month passes that I don’t speak to my township supervisor about one issue or another.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

More from article linked at #11:

As former City Manager Robert Rizzo, Mayor Oscar Hernandez and the others were rounded up during Tuesday morning raids on their homes, residents across the city honked their car horns, burst into cheers and staged impromptu celebrations.

[cripplecreek]

So does he do straight talk or does he have a sense of humor like his dad?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qqE_WmagjY

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

LOL!!!

See #15,.

[presently no screen name]

residents across the city honked their car horns, burst into cheers and staged impromptu celebrations.

Wonder if their attorneys will use that saying they can't get a fair trail in their city. I've never heard of these characters and I want to honk my car horn.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

I think he has some genetic material from his dad....

[henkster]

“Rizzo’s attorney, James W. Spertus, said the charges came as no surprise and were politically motivated by Cooley, who is running for California attorney general.”

From Cooley’s website, regarding his endorsement from the Northern California Lincoln Club:

“Steve Cooley is a dedicated and well-qualified candidate who offers Californians the expertise to get the state back on track,” said Edward Poole, Chairman of the Lincoln Club of Northern California. “Cooley’s three-terms as District Attorney for Los Angeles County have well-prepared him to serve as the Attorney General and we are proud to endorse his candidacy.”

Cooley responded to the endorsement by saying, “This is another significant boost for my campaign. It is a sign that Republicans across California are rallying to my plan to use the Attorney General’s office to target public corruption, pursue government fraud such as in the Medi-Cal program, implement and defend Three Strikes and the Death Penalty and crack down on foreign drug lords who are operating in California. I’m grateful to have the Lincoln Club’s endorsement.”

I would say this prosecution shows Cooley is qualified to be AG.