By Sean F. Driscoll of the Rockford Register Star
…former Dixon comptroller stole more than $53 million during her 20-year career for the city
Rita Crundwell, former comptroller for Dixon leaves federal court in Rockford on Monday, May 7, 2012, after pleading not guilty at her arraignment to charges that accuse her of stealing tens of millions of dollars from the community. Prosecutors contend that Crundwell had been transferring Dixon’s money to a secret account since at least1990 and using the money to create one of the nation’s leading horse-breeding operations and buy luxury homes, cars and jewelry.
ROCKFORD, IL — More than 400 horses belonging to Rita Crundwell will be sold by Sept. 30 as part of a civil forfeiture case stemming from criminal allegations that the former Dixon comptroller stole more than $53 million during her 20-year career for the city.
The proceeds of the sale will be used to pay for the horses’ upkeep since Crundwell’s April 17 arrest. Other parties, including those with liens on the horses, are filing claims with the court to recover their funds as well.
United States Attorneys announced the sale timeline today during a status hearing with Magistrate Judge P. Michael Mahoney. An exact date and place for the sale won’t be known until the U.S. Marshals Service awards a contract to an auction service.
Also at the hearing, Crundwell’s defense attorneys asked for more time to review the now-18,000 pages of evidence in the case; Mahoney granted the request and set the next status hearing for 11 a.m. Aug. 29.
Categories: Horse News
Straight from the Horse's Heart 
She embezzled 53 million dollars over the past 20 years & they just realized it??????????
Wouldnt you think someone would have had a feeling she was living above her income?
We hear of this more & more – someone should have been on the ball way before now.
Hope these horses go to decent homes – eventually.
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Hell, they took other people’s money and turned it into an empire….without anyone knowing??? Maybe she should run for office….I can see it now…..embezzling from the Chinese until our debt is gone…..hmmmmm
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Maryann: Great idea. The Chinese would never miss it.
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I’ve said the same thing all along. Why would anyone, who could afford a $2.5+ million motorhome, need a $80,000.00 a year job? Not only that, she had 2 semi tractor trailers and 2-18 wheeler type livings quarters/horse trailers. How many of us making $80k a year, with horses can even afford to buy a 2 horse bumper pull for our 10 year old truck? Alot of people in Dixon were blind.
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According to an article in TheHorse.com today, six of these horses have died. several were foals and one was an older horse
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I feel for the horses, but good grief, how can a city be missing $53 million dollars and not notice it? Sounds like a few more heads should roll.
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So once again a human commits the crime and the animals have to pay for her actions possibly with their lives. There is no justice in this country.
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Now she’s qualified to run for president! Or she could at least take Barney’s place in Congress.
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