Bell Fraud Hearing Nearing Conclusion
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Feb. 23: Bell City executives (from r.) Administrator Robert Rizzo; former Assistant City Administrator Angela Spaccia; Luis Artiga and Oscar Hernandez listen during a preliminary hearing for the four, who are charged with misappropriation of public funds in Los Angeles. (AP)
LOS ANGELES -- Attorneys are set to begin making their closing arguments at a preliminary hearing to determine whether the ousted former city manager of Bell should stand trial on dozens of charges of bilking the blue-collar suburb out of more than $5.5 million.
Former City Manager Robert Rizzo is charged with more than 50 counts of fraud. Also facing charges are Bell's former assistant city manager, the mayor and a former councilman.
Prosecutors and defense attorneys are to make their final arguments Wednesday before Superior Court Judge Henry J. Hall.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The preliminary hearing in Hall's court, which lasted three weeks, is concluding just a day after residents of Bell went to the polls to elect a new city council.