Ill. bookkeeper who stole $54M to appeal sentence

CHICAGO (AP) — A former city bookkeeper who embezzled almost $54 million from her northern Illinois hometown is appealing the length of her nearly 20-year prison sentence.

Rita Crundwell siphoned funds from the city of Dixon to pay for properties, personal luxuries and a horse-breeding operation. It's among the worst abuses of public trust in the state's corruption-plagued history.

Sauk Valley Media (http://bit.ly/YtmIhG) reported Monday that the appeal goes through the U.S. 7th Court of Appeals in Chicago, and defense attorney Paul Gaziano declined to provide further details.

Judge Philip Reinhard told the 60-year-old Crundwell at her Feb. 14 sentencing that she had "crippled" Dixon.

He also ordered her to pay full restitution — $53.7 million. But prosecutors concede they only expect to recover about $10 million.

Crundwell pleaded guilty to wire fraud.