Author Archives: 59million

Dixon Hires New Financial Director

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Dixon – The city turns the page on the Rita Crundwell scandal by hiring her replacement.

Paula Meyer takes over the newly created position of the city’s Financial Director. She most recently served as Dean of Business Services at Sauk Valley Community College.

Meyer will be in charge of financial planning, putting together a budget, and of course protecting the city’s assets. “It’s very exciting, it’s a new challenge” Meyer said during a press conference this afternoon. “It’s kind of a fresh start here for the city and we’re going to get things moving and headed in the right direction.

Meyer will make $95,000/year. She’ll start her new job next month.

Meanwhile, Crundwell is charged with wire fraud, accused of stealing more than $50 million from the city.

 

http://mystateline.com/fulltext-sportsconnection?nxd_id=348032

Online, live auction dates set for ex-Dixon comptroller’s horses

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DIXON — More than 400 horses that once belonged to former Dixon comptroller Rita Crundwell will be on the auction block next month, as the federal government tries to recoup the more than $53 million she allegedly stole from the city over a 20-year period.

An online auction will be held Sept. 11 and 12 and a live auction will follow Sept. 23 and 24 at Crundwell’s horse farm, located about 4 miles southeast of downtown Dixon. The preauction reports and bidding will be open to the public, said U.S. Marshal Darryl McPherson, and no private sales will be held.

McPherson said the Marshals Service and the FBI have worked jointly to identify more than 400 horses at 22 farms across 13 states and 17 federal judicial districts since Crundwell was arrested April 17.

“It has been a remarkable and unprecedented responsibility,” he said Friday, speaking from Crundwell’s farm at a news conference. “My objective is to provide the sound care for the horses while keeping costs under control to be able to return the greatest amount to any victims of the alleged crime at the conclusion of this process.”

Some of Crundwell’s horses are world-renowned and could fetch hundreds of thousands of dollars at auction, said Mike Jennings with Professional Auction Service Inc., of Round Hill, Va., the company that won the contract to conduct the auction.

Others, especially the younger horses, could go for more reasonable prices.

“I think there will be an opportunity for people in all walks of life to come buy a horse out of this program,” he said. “Some of the unproven young horses or maybe the older mares may be ways people can get in at a reasonable cost and the average family will have a chance to raise their champion horse down the line.”

The higher the sales prices on the horses, the better. It’s costing the federal government $200,000 a month to care for the herd, and their expenses will get reimbursed before any money is set aside for the city of Dixon or anyone else who may have a claim in the case. Professional Auction Services will be paid via a buyer’s premium of 8 percent to 10 percent of the sales price of each horse.

The sale of the horses and other property is part of a civil forfeiture case against Crundwell, who also faces a federal charge of wire fraud. If convicted of that charge, she could face up to 20 years in prison. Crundwell was released on her own recognizance as the criminal case moves through the court system.

 

http://www.rrstar.com/news/x111272842/Online-live-auction-dates-set-for-ex-Dixon-comptroller-s-horses

Feds open up ex-Dixon official’s horse trophy room

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DIXON, Ill. (AP) — A trophy room crammed floor to ceiling with prizes from championship horse shows offered the most jaw-dropping glimpse into the life of a former city official in northern Illinois charged with stealing millions in public funds.
U.S. Marshals took journalists on a tour Friday of Rita Crundwell’s immaculate ranch in Dixon, including the dazzling log cabin trophy room that’s part of the horse barn.
“This room speaks to the serious value of the herd,” said U.S. Marshal Darryl McPherson, referring to the 400 prized horses authorities seized and will soon try to sell. “These horses represent some of the best raised and bred in the quarter horse industry.”
Crundwell was arrested in April and is accused of stealing more than $53 million from the city since 1990 while working as its comptroller. She has pleaded not guilty to a charge of wire fraud. Prosecutors say Crundwell siphoned the money into a secret bank account and used it to sustain a luxurious lifestyle as well as her nationally renowned horse-breeding operations.
The trophy room is brimming with horse statuettes, ribbons, belt buckles and other prizes displayed on the floor, shelves, tables, a fireplace mantle and even the ceiling beams. The haul of winnings sits among antiques, saddles and Western-style leather furniture.
One wall of the room is decorated with large prints of Crundwell at championship events with her horses, as well as oil paintings of horses.
There’s a flat-screen TV and a well-stocked bar. The room also has a dining area and a full bathroom.
Elsewhere in the barn is a horse shower that resembles a car-wash bay and an old-fashioned popcorn maker.
Mike Jennings, of the Virginia-based company that will take charge of the horse auction in September, said interested buyers from around the world have already contacted him.
He expects the horses will sell for anywhere from $200 to $200,000 each.
If Crundwell is found guilty, the proceeds will go toward restitution for the city of Dixon.

Horses set for auction

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Hopes are high that some of the horses will go for six figures, especially since the horses up for sale come from a history of champions.

“This case is remarkable, it’s quite frankly unprecedented,” said chief inspector for the US Marshal Services Jason Wojdylo.

It’s the biggest Seizure Wojdylo has ever managed. “We’re dealing with world champions here, were dealing with a lead breeder in the quarter horse industry,” said Wojdylo. “And I think there’s something to be had with these horses.”

Rita Crundwell was arrested for wire fraud and accused of stealing more than 53-million dollars while she worked as comptroller for the city of Dixon. Now, the US Marshal Services is hoping to get some of that money back by selling off 400 horses and 5 properties.

“Our objectives are to maximize the return on all the horses,” said Wojdylo.

The horses are spread across 13 states on 22 farms and people in Dixon want them all sold.

“I would like to see everything go,” said Martha Martinez.

One look at the hundreds of trophies in Crundwell’s trophy room on her Dixon ranch shows how influence she has had in the quarter horse industry.

“The trophies and the trophy room as well as the sheer volume of horses speak to the value of the heard that we have,” said Wojdylo.

The auction is drawing international attention and has Dixon’s mayor hoping for a decent return.

“I’m hoping that we can recover a substantial amount of money,” said Dixon mayor Jim Burke.

Mayor Burke says he found out about what Crundwell is accused of doing five months before her arrest, a secret that kept him up at night.

“I’d wake up thinking about it,” said Burke. “And one time I remember thinking ‘is this really happening?'”

With an auction date now set, and the US Marshal Services hoping to recover as much of the city’s money as they can, Mayor Burke is just left wondering how someone who seemed so trusting could trick such a close nit town to fund her lavish lifestyle.

“What I would wonder about is how anybody could do that, knowing that city money was paying for all that,” said Burke.

The multi-day live auction will be held on September 23rd and 24th at Crundwell’s ranch located at 1556 Red Brick Road in Dixon. There will also be an online sale on September 11th and 12th.

 

http://mystateline.com/fulltext?nxd_id=346892

 

Dates announced for auction of Rita Crundwell’s horses.

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WREX- The U.S. Marshals Service is moving forward with the auction of horses owned by former Dixon comptroller Rita Crundwell.

A live auction will be held at Crundwell’s farm in Dixon on September 23 and September 24. Performance horses will be auctioned off on September 23, and halter horses will be auctioned on September 24. The farm is located at 1556 Red Brick Road in Dixon.

An online auction will be held on September 11 and September 12. The auction will be held at www.professionalauction.com. Times for both auctions are not yet available.

Interest in the horses is coming from as far as Australia and Europe. According to the auctioneer, 29 world champion horses will be up for auction, with some top breeding stallions garnering over $300,000. However, there will also be horses that will probably sell for just a few hundred dollars.

Crundwell has been accused of stealing over $53 million from the City of Dixon from 1990 to early 2012. She was arrested in April 2012 and charged with one count of wire fraud. Accusers say Crundwell used the money she allegedly stole to fund a lavish lifestyle for herself that included running a nation-wide horse breeding operation. She pled not guilty to wire fraud in May 2012

Rita crundwell RV did not sell.

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DIXON, Ill. (AP) – The U.S. Marshals Service has rejected the only bid for a luxury motor home seized from a former city official in northern Illinois because it was below the minimum $1 million requirement.

The 2009 Elegant Lady series Liberty Coach motor home once belonged to former Dixon Comptroller Rita Crundwell and had a list price of $2.1 million. But it couldn’t muster half that in bidding that ended Wednesday.

Crundwell is accused of stealing more than $53 million in public funds since 1990 and using the cash to fuel an extravagant lifestyle and a nationally renowned horse-breeding operation. She’s pleaded not guilty.

The Marshals Service will try to find another way to sell off the RV.

They’re also planning to sell 400 of Crundwell’s horses

U.S. Marshals Service Chooses Auctioneer for Crundwell Horses

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We now have a better idea of when Rita Crundwell’s hundreds of horses will be up for sale. The U.S. Marshals Service has awarded a contract to an auctioneer.

This is the release from the U.S. Department of Justice:

The U.S. Marshals Service has awarded a contract to Professional Auction Services of Round Hill,Virginia,for the U.S. District Court-ordered dispersal of horses and related equipment belonging to former city of Dixon, Illinois,Comptroller Rita A. Crundwell.

The contract will run from August 1 to September 30,2012. The agreement will offer buyers the opportunity to bid at a live auction at the Crundwell Red Brick Road farm,along with the opportunity to place bids on the contractor’s website. The auction dates are anticipated for mid-September and will be released by the contractor on or before August 1.

The U.S. Marshals Service received five proposals following a June 20 notice of the federal business opportunity. Receipt of bids closed on July 5. Proposals were evaluated on technical approach (i.e.,the capability to meet the requirements outlined within the Statement of Work),past performance conducting similar requirements,and price. The federal procurement process does not permit the release of information about the other companies considered for this contract.

Contractor performance will be closely monitored by the U.S. Marshals Service to ensure the highest level of integrity. A buyer’s premium is the only authorized fee charged to a buyer. All preview/inspection periods and auctions will be open to the public without charge of an admission fee. Private sales will not be allowed.

The U.S. Marshals Service will introduce representatives from Professional Auction Services in Dixon,Illinois,on August 2 where the company will provide a statement. More information on the time and location will be released under a separate media advisory.

 

From WIFR.com

Auction set for crundwell horses

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The U.S. Marshals Service hires a firm, to start selling off Rita Crundwell’s horses.

The contract goes to Professional Auction Services, Inc. out of Round Hill, Virginia. The contract runs from August 1st to September 30th. Auctioneers will sell horses and related equipment at Crundwell’s Red Brick Road farm in Dixon, and online. Right now, it looks like the auction will begin sometime in the middle of September.

Rita Crundwell is the City of Dixon’s former Comptroller. She’s accused of stealing more than $53 million from the City to fund her horse farm operation. A judge ordered the sale of more than 400 horses and other assets Crundwell had. Some of the money made will go back to the City of Dixon.

Crundwell has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Horses owned by Dixon’s former comptroller will go up for sale

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WREX.com – Rockford’s News Leader

The 400 horses that belong to former Dixon comptroller Rita Crundwell will be put up for sale. During a civil hearing Monday the judge set the sale of the animals to happen between August 1st and Sept. 30. The U.S. Marshall Services will decide the exact date.

The Marshalls are already selling Crudwell’s luxury motor home. It is for sale via sealed bids. The 2009 Liberty Coach Motor Home has a minimum bid of $1 million. Bids will be accepted until 2 p.m. on August 1.

Crundwell, 59, has been indicted for allegedly stealing more than $53 million from the City of Dixon since 1990 and using the proceeds to finance her horse breeding business and lavish lifestyle.

Six Crundwell horses dead

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Some of the more than 400 horses that were seized from former Dixon comptroller Rita Crundwell,have died.

Since the U.S. Marshals Service started caring for the horses on May first,sixof them have died. Several at the Dixon ranch,one in Wisconsin and one in Texas.

Most of them were under veterinary care before they died. The first passed away on May 3rd from bacteria in the blood. The second died on June 4th from pneumonia,a third died on June 20th. The foal was found in a field at the Dixon ranch. Authorities say it also had a heart murmur. On June 21st a horse in Texas died from colic. On July 5th an older horse died from kidney failure. And on July 11th another horse died from kidney failure.

The U.S. Marshals Service says they could award a horse auction contract next week. The contractor then has 45 days to put on the auction. It will take place at the Dixon ranch, likely in late August or early September. People will also be able to bid online.