In Bell, California, where corrupt city officials looted the treasury, the corruption trial of Angela Spaccia continues. Yesterday’s revelations show the depths to which corrupt officials will sink.
The city of Bell paid $10,000 for former councilman George Cole to go to a weight-loss camp and also paid for Mayor Oscar Hernandez to get hair plugs, prosecutors said Thursday.
The revelations came Thursday as former councilwoman Teresa Jacobo testified during the corruption trial of Angela Spaccia, Bell’s onetime second in command, who is charged with 13 corruption-related felonies.
Last month we learned that Robert Rizzo, the city’s former administrator, is heading to prison for his role in the corruption.
Prosecutors said Rizzo, Bell’s former city administrator, would be sentenced to 10 to 12 years in prison. His attorney said Rizzo would probably be required to pay between $1 million to $3.2 million in restitution to the city.
When he left his job amid an outcry over his salary, his annual compensation was $1.5 million for running one of Los Angeles County’s poorest cities. He owned a ranch near Seattle and racehorses, including a gelding named Depenserdel’argent — French for “spend money.” He gave out millions of dollars in unauthorized loans from the city to himself, other employees and a car dealer.
Shameless. This is why transparency in government is so vital.
