Former Dixon Comptroller Rita Crundwell plead not guilty in Lee County Court yesterday during an arraignment after being charged with 60 counts of theft after she allegedly misappropriated millions of dollars from the community.
Crundwell appeared in court for the 1st time with her public defender Bob Thompson. She has been indicted by a Lee County Grand Jury.
The indictment deals with 60 counts of transactions that Crundwell made between January 1st of 2010 through April 17th of 2012 that totaled more than 11 million dollars. City officials say she was taking nearly $200,000 during each transaction.
Crundwell also faces a federal charge of wire fraud as the scam involves more than 53 million dollars during a 20-year period as Comptroller of Dixon.
She used the money for her horse training business and lavish lifestyle which included several homes, an RV, and a number vehicles.
Crundwell is scheduled to return to Lee County court on December 19th for a pre-trial conference. Her next federal court date in Rockford is set for November 14th for a hearing.
She is out of jail after posting bond on the charges.
