Former Dixon Comptroller Rita Crundwell now faces more charges related to missing city funds.
Lee County State's Atty. Henry Dixon announced this afternoon that a grand jury has indicted Crundwell on 60 felony theft counts, said to have taken place between January 19, 2010, and April 16, 2012. Each count accuses her of stealing more than $100,000 from the city while serving as comptroller.
These state charges are in addition to federal charges, in which she is accused of stealing more than $53-million from the city to support a lavish lifestyle as a champion horse breeder. The federal government is in the process of auctioning off Crundwell's horses, with her permission.
Dixon Mayor James Burke says he sees the state charges as a response to public perception that Crundwell will "get off with a slap on the wrist" in her federal trial. Crundwell has pleaded "not guilty" to federal charges and has not yet been served with a notice to appear in court to hear the new charges.
