Five former Bell City Council members were found guilty March 20, 2013 of stealing public money by paying themselves extraordinary salaries in one of Los Angeles County’s poorest cities. From lower right are Victor Bello, Oscar Hernandez, George Cole, Teresa Jacobo, Luis Artiga and George Mirabal. Luis Artiga, the only one of the six defendants who was acquitted on all charges, was released by the judge. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)