BELL, Calif., Sept. 21 (UPI) -- Prosecutors announced Tuesday that criminal charges of misappropriation of public funds had been filed against current and former officials in Bell, Calif.
The small Los Angeles County city's mayor and three city council members were among eight current and former Bell officials arrested Tuesday in a high-profile investigation into the city's government.
"This is corruption on steroids," District Attorney Steve Cooley told reporters.
Former City Manager Robert Rizzo was charged with 53 counts of misappropriation of public funds and conflict of interest, the Los Angeles Times said.
The Times said the leadership of the working-class, largely Hispanic community had been under scrutiny over high salaries paid to Rizzo and various elected officials that were well in excess of those paid by comparable cities.
The newspaper reported last month that Rizzo was set to be paid $1.5 million this year and had been involved in loans made to him and more than 50 city officials totaling $1.6 million.
