NW Illinois News

Senator Andrew Chesney expressed his disapproval regarding the commutation of Rita Crundwell's prison sentence in a Facebook post dated December 12, stating "Unbelievable."

"My statement on Biden's decision to commute the prison sentence of the woman who embezzled $54 million from Dixon taxpayers," said S Chesney, State Senator, according to Facebook. "Unbelievable."

According to Chesney, he shared a graphic with an extended statement on the commutation. "Outgoing President Joe Biden’s decision to commute the sentence of Rita Crundwell is nothing short of a slap in the face to the people of Dixon and the surrounding areas. Her crimes did not only affect the taxpayers of Dixon, but they had a rippling effect across the region and state, as communities became subject to stricter, more tedious regulations. First it was the pardoning of his son, and now Biden is apparently extending clemency to anyone with political connections, including corrupt government employees. It’s sickening," Chesney wrote.

Screenshot of State Senator Andrew Chesney's Dec. 12 Facebook post | State Senator Andrew Chesney's Facebook page

The Chicago Tribune reported on Crundwell’s commutation, highlighting that she admitted in 2012 to embezzling $53.7 million from the City of Dixon over more than a decade. The funds were used for her quarter horse business and personal expenses. In 2013, she received a 20-year federal prison sentence. In 2020, she petitioned for compassionate release due to health concerns and the COVID-19 pandemic. "I have done everything in my power to be a ‘model inmate.’ To work as hard as I can and have never complained about my conditions here or the pay we receive. There is never a day that goes by, I do not regret my crime," said Crundwell in her petition. She was released to a halfway house in Downers Grove in 2021 and would have completed her sentence in 2028.

Crundwell was also required to pay restitution alongside her prison sentence. Her estate and assets were auctioned off for $9.2 million. The City of Dixon recovered over $30 million through settlements from lawsuits against insurance companies that failed to detect her thefts.

Chesney has represented Illinois' 45th Senate District since 2023 after serving the 89th House District starting in December 2018. He has been an elected member of the Freeport City Council and served on the board of Regional Access Mobilization Project (RAMP), which supports individuals with disabilities. Additionally, he has mentored with Big Brothers Big Sisters.