Dixon, Ill. city comptroller to plead guilty to theft from city of $53 million

[No Elephants]

Rita Crundwell case: Ex-Dixon comptroller to plead guilty to theft of $53 million, US says

By NBC News staff and wire services

A former longtime comptroller for Dixon, Ill., now is expected to plead guilty to charges she stole $53 million from the city’s accounts and used it to fund her renowned horse-breeding business and lavish lifestyle, federal prosecutors say.

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Crundwell, 59, had pleaded not guilty in May to a single federal count of wire fraud.

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Authorities say Crundwell used the money to buy luxury homes and vehicles, and spent millions on her horse-breeding operation, RC Quarter Horses LLC, which produced 52 world champions in exhibitions run by the American Quarter Horse Association.

Wire fraud carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

<snip>

More than 400 horses and a luxury motor home once owned by Crundwell have been auctioned off by federal authorities, according to media reports. If Crundwell is convicted, much of the money will be returned to Dixon – after the federal government takes its cut for caring for the horses for months, The Chicago Tribune reported.

Dixon, with a population of approximately 15,733, is about 100 miles southwest of Chicago.

http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/11/13/15142932-rita-crundwell-case-ex-dixon-comptroller-to-plead-guilty-to-theft-of-53-million-us-says?lite

Okay, I realize this has gone on since 1990, but how does a town of 15,733 not notice $53 million bucks? Were the mayors in a coma?

[Enthusiast]

1. Yeah. Quite a mystery as to how this continued for so long.

Maybe the mayors were gifted a bit of the largess to look away.