Former Dixon Comptroller Rita Crundwell's Horses Set for Auction
By: Marty Kasper
Updated: August 3, 2012
"This
case is remarkable, it's quite frankly unprecedented," said chief inspector
for the
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
"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
"I
would like to see everything go," said Martha Martinez.
One
look at the hundreds of trophies in Crundwell's trophy room on her
"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
"I'm
hoping that we can recover a substantial amount of money," said
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
