The U.S. Marshals are auctioning horse show clothing, accessories and other items that once belonged to imprisoned former Dixon comptroller Rita Crundwell.
Crundwell was sentenced to serve nearly two decades in prison for stealing $53 million while she handled the money for the city of Dixon, Illinois. She was convicted of fraud in 2012.
The city recovered most of that money through a combination of previous sales of Crundwell’s assets, and a $40-million settlement with the bank and auditor that failed to catch her crime.
The previous auctions of her belongings have brought more than $9.5 million for the city of Dixon, according to a statement from the U.S. Marshals Service.
Now, they’re auctioning off even more items that they claim she moved to various locations before she was convicted. Most of the items are now being stored in Texas, and winning bidders will be responsible for retrieving what they buy.
The next auction of Crundwell’s assets was set to begin October 20 and last through November 3, online, at www.txauction.com.
“Items of interest include a football and framed T-shirt signed by NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Terry Bradshaw and a Childeric English saddle with a water buffalo seat, which sells new for more than $4,000. Other items for sale include Harley Davidson apparel, various pairs of cowboy boots, Sean Ryan western hats, an ATV and mopeds,” said a statement from the U.S. Marshals Service.
Bidders will have to register with a credit card, phone number and shipping address and some items may require a refundable deposit
They planned to sell household items, and Crundwell’s large collection of horse show belt buckles, at a second auction but the date for that auction had not yet been set.
Other items they’ve already sold:
Her ranch in Dixon was sold to her nephew in February 2013 for more than $1.1 million. Several months before the sale was announced, video was released showing the interior of her Dixon home filled with custom-made items and personal belongings that were all later auctioned.
More than 250,000 people visited an online auction of Crundwell’s assets held in December 2012; that auction – which included items in her Florida home – brought in nearly $95,000.
Thousands of people were there when horses and other equestrian equipment, that once belonged to Crundwell, were auctioned off in September 2012. That auction brought in about six million dollars.
An auction of Crundwell’s jewelry, held in February 2013, brought in more than a quarter-million dollars.
