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Former Bell City Manager Rizzo Behind Bars In Lompoc

LOMPOC, Calif. (CBSLA.com) — Former Bell city manager Robert Rizzo was in federal custody at a Santa Barbara County penitentiary to begin serving two consecutive prison sentences, authorities said Monday.

A spokesperson for the Lompoc Federal Correctional Complex confirmed his arrival on May 31. No release date has been set.

Rizzo was expected to surrender Friday after he was sentenced last month to 12 years in state prison for his role in the city's corruption scandal, but it wasn't immediately clear what was behind the delay in his surrender.

He will first serve a 33-month sentence for tax evasion in a separate case before commencing his 12-year sentence.

Rizzo, who had remained free on $2.2 million bond since April 16, will serve his sentences in the two cases separately, but at the same location.

He who was also ordered to pay $8.8 million in restitution in connection with the corruption scandal and $256,000 to the IRS in the tax evasion case.

The 60-year-old was the ring leader of the Bell scandal, which inflated salaries of city administrators, ultimately costing taxpayers $15 million.

In October, he pleaded no contest to 69 counts, including misappropriation of public funds and perjury.

"I breached the public's confidence by starting to look at the position more towards myself than the community. I am very, very sorry for that," he said following his sentencing.

Six other Bell city leaders, including Rizzo's assistant, Angela Spaccia, have also been convicted in the scandal.

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