Marathon Pundit: Dixon horse lady scandal: Feds collect $3 million on home sales

Thursday, January 03, 2013

Dixon horse lady scandal: Feds collect $3 million on home sales

Dixon Arch

The most prominent corruption story in graft-ridden Illinois was the $53 million embezzlement scandal in Dixon, Illinois involving the northern Illinois town's longtime comptroller, Rita Crundwell. She stole the money to fund a lavish lifestyle centered on her championship quarter horse breeding business. The feds are working toe recoup Dixon's losses.

More from CBS 2 Chicago:

The U.S. Marshals Service sold three of convicted Dixon comptroller Rita Crundwell’s five properties for more than $3 million on Monday.

Three separate people purchased land once belonging to Crundwell, parcels at 1403 Dutch Rd. and 1556 Red Brick Rd., and 81 acres of farmland, all in Lee County, according to a statement from the U.S. Marshals Service. A $350,000 offer was also submitted on a fourth property in Lee County.

The U.S. Marshals put the properties up for sale in October and after receiving unsolicited offers of $1.69 million for the three, the statement said. Thirteen counter-offers were received and the properties eventually sold for more than $3 million.

The U.S. Marshals are also looking to sell a fifth property at 1679 U.S. 52 in Dixon, the statement said. Open houses will be held Jan. 11, 12 and 18 between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., and offers will be accepted until 2 p.m. on Jan. 25.

So far just $8 million has come from the sale of these properties, the horses, and luxury cars.

Crundwell pleaded guilty last year to a single count of wire fraud--she faces sentencing on February 14. She still faces state charges.

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