Suspected Illinois embezzler to be arraigned

Suspected Illinois embezzler to be arraigned

ROCKFORD, Ill. (AP) — The former financial officer for the northern Illinois city of Dixon is slated to appear in court to face charges that accuse her of stealing tens of millions of dollars from the community.

Rita Crundwell is expected to enter a plea at her arraignment today.

A federal grand jury last month returned an indictment charging Crundwell with wire fraud for allegedly siphoning more than $53 million from Dixon since 1990 into a secret account.

Prosecutors contend she used the money to fund one of the nation’s leading horse breeding operations and feed a lavish lifestyle that kept her outfitted with cars and hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of jewelry.

Her attorney, Paul Gaziano, has refused to comment on the case, citing rules of the federal defender program.