XPost: dc.urban-planning, wa.politics   
   From: impeach_obama@yahoo.com   
      
   On the same day that the Illinois state Senate approves same-sex   
   marriage, a former bookkeeper for the cash-stripped town of   
   Dixon is sentenced to 20 years in prison after embezzling $53   
   million into her own pockets.   
      
   One door opens, another one closes.   
      
   How did Rita Crundwell get away with what authorities have   
   called the largest municipal fraud in the country’s history?   
      
   According to prosecutors, Crundwell was able to pull off this   
   scheme for over 20 years by creating phony invoices for bogus   
   services and supplies. She also used the city’s funds to pay her   
   bills, which was wire transferred directly into a private bank   
   account she had set up.   
      
   For more than two decades Crundwell has been living a lavish   
   lifestyle with no concern for the townspeople. Before she was   
   actually caught, her ploy left Dixon city employees with no   
   raises, old equipment never got replaced and the city’s   
   infrastructure was crumbling.  Agency head, Michael Stichter,   
   recounted how Crundwell rejected his requests for equipment and   
   told him, “If you knew where a money tree was, I’d be willing to   
   get you a dump truck.”   
      
   This “fiscal crisis” she carefully crafted allowed her to run   
   two horse farms that produced 52 world champions (she was   
   apparently one of the greatest horse owners anybody has heard   
   of), a $2 million motor home, luxurious cars and over $340,000   
   in jewelry.   
      
   It wasn’t until she took a lengthy vacation back in 2011 that   
   her fraudulent behavior was uncovered. While she was out of the   
   office, her replacement stumbled upon some receipts showing   
   irregularities in the city’s accounts amounting to $267,000 in   
   withdrawals for the month of September.   
      
   Once Mayor James Burke found out that none of the withdrawals   
   she made were for city business, the FBI was brought in.   
      
   But they didn’t pounce on her right away. They let her keep on   
   playing her little game.   
      
   After the FBI was informed, they quietly watched her for half a   
   year as she took at least $3.2 million from the city, according   
   to prosecutors.   
      
   On April 17, when Burke called her into his office, three FBI   
   agents were waiting for her.   
      
   “These three gentlemen here would like to ask you some   
   questions,’” Burke said. And that was the last time he spoke   
   with her. “I remember looking at the expression on her face and   
   it never changed.”   
      
   Apparently, Crundwell always waltzed around town all rainbows   
   and butterflies – the nicest woman around. Now the entire world   
   knows why.   
      
   Last year, she pleaded guilty to wire fraud in connection with   
   the scheme and although her lawyer asked for a more lenient   
   sentence, the judge wasn’t having it.   
      
   “You have much better passion for your horses than the people of   
   Dixon who you were supposed to represent,” said US District   
   Judge Philip Reinhard.   
      
   Crundwell still faces around 60 state charges of felony theft,   
   each of which carries a potential sentence of up to 30 years in   
   prison on conviction.   
      
   http://firsttoknow.com/woman-sentenced-to-20-years-after-   
   embezzling-53-million-from-illinois-   
   town/?utm_source=o_fo&utm_campaign=woman-sentenced-to-20-ye-22851   
      
   --   
   Are you obligated as an armed civilian, to defend unarmed   
   liberals while you are both under fire by foreign agents of the   
   outlaw Obama administration?   
      
   No.  Shoot the liberals immediately so they can't stab you in   
   the back while you are defending yourself, then return a   
   controlled rate of aimed fire.       
      
          
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)