and other fringe benefits," and that "This is a textbook case of conflict of interest." Salary dispute Bell city manager Rizzo collected a salary of US$787,637 a year, with yearly 12% increases scheduled every July; he received $1.5 million in his last year. Rizzo remained unapologetic about his salary and said, "If that's a number people choke on, maybe I'm in the wrong business ... I could go into private business and make that kind of money. This council has compensated me for the job I've done." Spaccia concurred, saying: "I would have to argue you get what you pay for." Rizzo and Spaccia never earned similar salaries in the private sector. In comparison, then-Los Angeles County Chief Executive William T. Fujioka earned $338,458. The President of the United States earns $400,000 per year. Rizzo also received an unusually large package of benefits, including paid vacation, and sick and personal time of 28 weeks off per year. In addition, both Rancho Cucamonga and Hesperia may be obligated to pay significant percentages of Rizzo's estimated $600,000 annual pension, according to Daily Press estimates. Rizzo would have received a pension of $880,000 annually. In September 2010, Rizzo; Hernandez; Spaccia; and council members George Mirabal, Teresa Jacobo, Luis Artiga, George Cole, and Victor Bello were arrested and charged with misappropriation of public funds. When Hernandez refused to answer the door at his home, the sheriff's department used a battering ram to break down his door and bring out the mayor in handcuffs. He refused to resign from his mayoral office, and was recalled in March 2011. Rizzo was released from jail after Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Mary Lou Villar determined that the funds posted for his $2 million bail were not linked to any of the monies he acquired in Bell. Rizzo was required to turn in his passport and wear an electronic monitoring device. The bail bondsmen hired for Rizzo's $2 million bail, James Demayo and Morris Demayo, negotiated for several weeks with the prosecutor, Max Huntsman, to get his bail approved. The electronic monitor was insisted on by Huntsman. Since his resignation, Rizzo continued to request that the city of Bell pay his legal bills. He also claimed the city owed him back pay. There was no such agreement made with Rizzo when he stepped down. "He resigned without severance pay", former councilman Velez stated, adding: "I will not