Five of six former Bell city council members have been found guilty of various charges of misappropriation of public funds.
By Brian Hews
(Los Angeles) It was D-Day for five former City of Bell council members who were found guilty on various felony counts of misappropriating public funds in a political corruption case that has been followed all across the nation for the past three years.
Defendants Victor Bello, George Cole, Oscar Hernandez, Teresa Jacobo and George Mirabal, all former city councilmembers and past mayors of the tiny enclave were found guilty on various counts and not guilty on several others.
The sixth defendant, former appointed city councilman Luis Artiga, was found not guilty on all counts. Artiga, who serves as a Pastor broke down in tears after they non guilty verdicts were read by a court clerk.
Here is a rundown of the verdicts:
Victor Bello was found guilty on four counts of misappropriation of funds relating to the Solid Waste and Recycling Authority between Jan. 1, 2006 and Dec. 31, 2009. Bello was found not guilty of four counts of misappropriation of funds relating to payment for services as a member of the Public Finance Authority during the same time period.
George Cole was found guilty on two counts of misappropriation of funds relating to the Solid Waste and Recycling Authority between Jan. 1, 2006 and Dec. 31, 2007. Cole was found not guilty of two counts of misappropriation of funds relating to payment for services as a member of the Public Finance Authority during the same time period.
George Mirabal was found guilty of five counts of misappropriation of funds relating to the Solid Waste and Recycling Authority between Jan. 1, 2006 and July 26, 2010. Mirabal was found not guilty of five counts related to misappropriation for payment for services as a member of the Public Finance Authority during the same period.
Teresa Jacobo was found guilty of five counts of misappropriation of funds relating to the Solid Waste and Recycling Authority between Jan. 1, 2006 and July 26, 2010. Jacobo was found not guilty of five counts related to misappropriation for payment for services as a member of the Public Finance Authority during the same period.
Oscar Hernandez was found guilty of a total of five counts of misappropriating public funds related to the Solid Waste Authority and not guilty on the five counts of misappropriation related to the Public Finance Authority.
Hernandez, 65, Jacobo, 55, and Mirabal, 63, were each charged with 20 counts of misappropriating public funds; Bello, 54, was charged with 16 counts of misappropriation and Artiga, 52, was charged with 12 counts of misappropriation and Cole, 63, was charged with eight counts of misappropriation.
Former City Manager Robert Rizzo, who is accused of being the mastermind of the alleged corruption scheme, is awaiting trial separately, along with former assistant Angela Spaccia, on corruption-related charges.
Los Cerritos Community Newspaper will have additional updates as they develop.
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