Ex-Mayor Sentenced To 1 Year In Jail For Bell Corruption Scandal

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — The former mayor of Bell was sentenced Thursday for his involvement in a massive public corruption scandal that nearly bankrupted the city of Bell, officials said.

Authorities said that 66-year-old Oscar Hernandez was ordered to spend one year in jail and five years probation, perform 1,000 hours of community service and pay more than $241,000 in restitution to the city of Bell.

If he successfully completes the terms of his sentencing, officials said that he will not have to serve a suspended four-year prison term.

According to authorities, Hernandez was convicted in March 2013 along with former City Council Members Teresea Jacobo and George Mirabal and former Councilmen George Cole and Victor Bello.

In an effort to resolve the case against them, officials said that all five pleaded no contest in April to two felony counts each of misappropriation of public funds.

According to the Los Angeles District Attorney's office, Jacobo was sentenced Friday to two years in state prison beginning Aug. 25 and must return more than $242,000 to the city of Bell.

Mirabal began serving a one-year jail term last Friday and was sentenced to five years probation, 1,000 hours of community service and ordered to return more than 242,000 in restitution, authorities said.

Cole was sentenced to 180 days of home confinement with GPS monitoring, 1,000 hours of community service, five years of probation and ordered to pay more than $77,000 in restitution to the city, according to the district attorney's office.

Officials said that Bello is scheduled to be sentenced in downtown Los Angeles tomorrow.

In September 2010, the five former city officials were charged alongside former City Administrator Robert Rizzo and former Assistant City Administrator Angela Spaccia, according to the district attorney's office.

Authorities said that Rizzo was sentenced in April to 12 years in prison and ordered to pay $8.8 million in restitution to the city of Bell.

According to the district attorney's office, Spaccia was sentenced in April to 11 years and eight months in state prison and was ordered to return more than $8 million to the city of Bell.

Officials said that Hernandez must surrender to begin his jail time on Aug. 29.