CalPERS Cuts Benefits of Former Bell Execs

California retirement system officials have further cut the benefits of two former top Bell employees now facing corruption charges.

The California Public Employees' Retirement System denied Robert Rizzo, Bell's former adminstrative officer, and Angela Spaccia, the former assistant chief administrative officer, of five years of credit they bought using city funds, according to the Los Angeles Times.

The move followed CalPERS earlier decision to reduce the two city officials' benefits. Rizzo and Spaccia, along with eight other former Bell officals, are facing corruption charges. Before the scandal, Rizzo would have received $650,000 a year during retirement, which would have made him the highest paid retiree in the largest retirement system in the country.

The city in Los Angeles County was thrust into the spotlight in the summer of 2010 by L.A. Times reports that it was paying Rizzo about $800,000 a year.

The fallout since then has included civil and criminal charges against Rizzo, four City Council members, and other members of Bell's management team. They are accused of misappropriating millions of dollars from the city, which has a population of about 40,000.

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