Former Dixon Comptroller Rita Crundwell already faces federal charges, but now add to that 60 counts of theft, a Class X felony. The Lee County States Attorney tells TV6 city and county officials are obligated to give the people of Dixon justice here, and that's why they brought their own charges against Crundwell Thursday.
"This morning the Lee County jury met and considered the case People vs. Rita Crundwell," Lee County States Attorney Henry Dixon says, "Today a grand jury returned a 60 count indictment."
Sixty counts, one count for each time Crundwell allegedly stole money from the City of Dixon and put it into her own bank account under the name of 'The Reserve Sewer Capital Development Fund.
"There is a dual jurisdictional issue," Dixon says, "Federal crimes have been committed allegedly, state crimes have been committed allegedly."
City and county officials say they pursued their own charges because it was clear a crime had been committed.
After several months of investigation from July until September, which included subpoenas of bank records and city hall records, as well as pulling information from the media, officials say they've gathered enough evidence to charge the accused.
"The bottom line is do we charge someone with a crime when a serious crime is committed or do we not?" Dixon says, "My perception is that's our responsibility."
Officials say they also did it for the community to make sure if Crundwell is guilty of these crimes, she will get what she deserves.
"The people of this community have a right to expect when a serious crime has been committed that the state's attorney will prosecute," Dixon says.
"Around this community, there has been a lot of concern that the accused was going to get off with a slap on the wrist," Mayor Burke adds.
If found guilty of all 60 counts, Crundwell faces 360 years in prison. She will be served with a notice to appear in Lee County Court in October.
