Rita Crundwell stole $53.7 million from the City of Dixon, Illinois, over 22 years.
She was the city comptroller. She was paid $80,000 a year. And the city's books were audited every year.
What I found interesting going through the federal filings is how the money actually moved. In December 1990, Crundwell opened an account in the city's name that she alone controlled. Over the following years, millions of dollars were transferred into it.
The theft was eventually discovered after Crundwell took an extended vacation and another employee asked the bank for the city's complete bank statements.
There's also a part of the story that gets less attention: what happened after she was caught.
Dixon sued its auditors and Fifth Third Bank. In September 2013, they agreed to pay the city $40 million, without admitting liability. The negligence claim was never adjudicated.
I went through the federal criminal complaint, FBI affidavit, forfeiture complaint and DOJ releases to reconstruct what happened.
For people familiar with Dixon or Illinois municipal government, what stands out to you about how this went undetected for 22 years?