U.S. Marshals prepare to auction Dixon comptroller's property - Atlanta News, Weather, Traffic, and Sports | FOX 5

Soon, U.S. Marshals will start auctioning off the ill-gotten gains of former Dixon comptroller Rita Crundwell, who is accused of embezzling  more than $50 million and using it to build a world-class horse farm.

"This has been unprecedented for us," said U.S. Marshal Jason Wojdylo.

Authorities allege that Crundwell's spending spree went on for 25 years as she bought acres of rolling Illinois farm land, trucks, cars, and an elaborate RV. Her passion, though, was horses.

"These are an accumulation of some of the best quarter horses in the world," said vet Tim Strathman.

Want proof? Crundwell's trophy room, which is attached to the stables, is filled with hundreds of trophies and ribbons from horse shows all over the world.

In September, U.S. Marshals will auction off more than 400 of her prize horses, some of which are expected to sell for $100,000 to $200,000 each. Eventually the government is going to sell everything Crundwell owned, including the horse stables, the cars, and trucks. But the priority is to sell the horses first. That's because the government is burning through $200,000 a month trying to keep them healthy and safe.

The money raised through auctions will be given back to the residents of Dixon, although with so much stolen over so many years, Dixon residents said they'll be lucky to get pennies on the dollar.

"I think somebody dropped the ball a long time ago, and nobody bothered to pick it up," said resident Elaine Bennett.