Dennis RomeroThey're quickly becoming known as the “Bell Eight” — those illustrious officials from that working-class, Los Angeles suburb accused of misappropriating public funds and, as state controller John Chiang put it Wednesday, using public money “like a petty cash drawer.”
On Tuesday they were booked into Los Angeles County jail (and isolated from dangerous inmates on “keep away status,” according to the sheriff's department, because robbing a 7-Eleven and robbing the public at-large are apparently two different things). Without further adieu, here's our rogues gallery of “Bell Eight” mug shots:
Robert Rizzo, who reportedly took home more than $1.5 million in salary and other benefits, led the charge(s) with 53 counts of misappropriation of public funds. The other seven defendants also faced charges of misappropriation:
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Assistant city manager Angela Spaccia was said to have earned a near-Obama-like salary of $376,288.
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Mayor Oscar Hernandez made about $100,000 a year for part-time council work and is alleged to have attended “phantom meetings” that never took place to boost his income.
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Vice Mayor Teresa Jacobo is another $100,000-a-year winner.
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George Mirabal, 100k-a-year part-time councilman.
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Luis Artiga, another six-figure councilman who found himself in handcuffs Tuesday morning.
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George Cole, former Bell council member.
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Victor Bello, ex-Bell City Council member, current criminal defendant.
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