You can’t touch this.

So Robert “Ratso” Rizzo, former city manager of Bell, is going to prison. He’s expected to be sentenced to somewhere between 10 to 12 years (the actual sentencing is scheduled for March), and he’ll probably do about half that time.

Ratso also has to pay compensation to the city of Bell. As far as I can tell, there hasn’t been a final decision on the amount (I’m guessing that will be part of his sentencing) but it could be up to $3.2 million.

Where will that money come from? Rizzo sold his house at a loss, and it looks like the same thing is happening with his ranch.

Two places the money won’t come from: Rizzo’s retirement account, and his pension of $116,628 a year.

…city officials say they are legally prevented from going after the pension and the retirement account — which appear to be Rizzo’s main remaining assets — limiting how much the city can get back from him.

More:

State law says that an elected official convicted of a felony loses his pension, but an appointed city official like Rizzo is not covered by the law.

2 Responses to “You can’t touch this.”

  1. guffaw says:

    Right in line with other liberal States, like Illinois, where Jesse Jackson, Jr. get his pension while in prison!

    BTW, I’m stealing (borrowing) this for an upcoming blog post – thanks!

    gfa

  2. stainles says:

    Steal away, brother man.