Former Dixon comptroller pleads not guilty to taking $53M

The former financial officer of Dixon has pleaded not guilty to charges that she stole more than $53 million from the downstate community.

Rita Crundwell pleaded not guilty to wire fraud in a Rockford courtroom on Monday. She will be represented by public defenders.

Prosecutors contend Crundwell had been transferring Dixon's money to a secret account since at 1990 and using the money to create one of the nation's leading horse-breeding operations and buy luxury homes, cars and jewelry.

Crundwell and attorney, Paul Gaziano, refused to comment on the case.