For Immediate Release

Washington – The U.S. Marshals Service is holding another online auction for several remaining items belonging to Rita Crundwell. The auction, at www.professionalauction.com/12RC_Assets.htm, starts Sunday and runs through Wednesday. Items for sale include a boulder with engraved initials “RC,” a hand-crafted, limited-edition (4 of 12 made) decorative leather saddle and accessories in a display case with podium, and signs and calendars featuring Crundwell’s initials and her now-defunct quarter horse operation.

“The U.S. Marshals Service partnered with the city of Dixon to remove signage depicting symbols of RC Quarter Horses, LLC, from buildings at the Red Brick Road ranch in Dixon, Ill.,” said Chief Inspector Jason Wojdylo with the Marshals Service’s Asset Forfeiture Division. “This is another visible step in the continued dismantling of Crundwell’s equine empire.”

A boulder, decorative saddle and sign are three of the Crundwell items up for auction
 

Crundwell, 59, was one of the leading breeders of quarter horses in the U.S. Formerly the comptroller of Dixon, Crundwell pleaded guilty to a federal fraud charge in U.S. District Court in Northern Illinois Nov. 14. Crundwell agreed she owes restitution to the city of Dixon totaling $53,740,394. Since she was arrested on April 17, Crundwell has agreed to the liquidation of assets she acquired with proceeds from her decades-long fraud scheme. To date, the U.S. Marshals Service has recovered approximately $7.9 million from the online and live auctions of approximately 400 quarter horses, vehicles, trailers, tack, a luxury motor home and personal belongings from her homes in Dixon, Ill., and Englewood, Fla. The net proceeds from the forfeited property will be held in escrow pending further proceedings on restitution to the victim of the offense.

For information on the federal case, go to
http://www.justice.gov/usao/iln/pr/chicago/2012/pr1114_01.pdf 

The U.S. Marshals Service is responsible for managing and selling seized and forfeited properties acquired by federal criminals through illegal activities. Proceeds generated from asset sales are used to compensate victims, supplement funding for law enforcement initiatives and support community programs. As part of the Department of Justice’s Asset Forfeiture Program, the Marshals currently manage more than 23,000 assets with a value of $2.4 billion.

Additional information about the U.S. Marshals Service can be found at http://www.usmarshals.gov.

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