Ex-Bell Councilwoman Teresa Jacobo sentenced in corruption scandal

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Former Bell City Councilwoman Teresa Jacobo was sentenced on Friday to two years in prison for misappropriating public funds.

Jacobo was ordered to surrender on Aug. 25 to begin serving the term. She also has to pay more than $242,000 in restitution.

Jacobo, 61, is one of five former city council members who avoided a retrial by pleading "no contest" to misappropriation of public funds through inflated salaries. She was convicted in March 2013 of five counts and acquitted of five others.

Two of her co-defendants have received primarily probation for similar offenses. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Kathleen Kennedy said Jacobo received a heavier sentence because Jacobo was in a different position and should have known more because of her background in real property law. The judge also said she didn't think Jacobo's apology was sincere and that she appeared defiant.

Former Councilman George Mirabal was sentenced earlier this month to one year in county jail, five years probation, 1,000 hours of community service and nearly $243,000 in restitution to the city. He was to begin serving his jail time on Friday.

Former Councilman George Cole was sentenced Wednesday to 180 days of home confinement with electronic monitoring, 1,000 hours of community service, five years probation and more than $77,000 in restitution to the city.

The corruption scandal nearly left the city of Bell bankrupt. Former chief administrative officer Robert Rizzo was sentenced in April to 12 years in state prison. He was also ordered to pay $8.8 million in restitution. Former assistant chief administrative officer Angela Spaccia was sentenced to 11 years and eight months in prison and was ordered to pay $8.2 million in restitution.

Sentencing for former Mayor Oscar Hernandez and former Councilman Victor Bello is scheduled for next week.

City News Service contributed to this report.