In a surprising move, President Joe Biden has decided to cut short the prison sentences of two infamous Chicago-area fraudsters. Rita Crundwell, former comptroller of Dixon, and Eric Bloom, ex-head of Sentinel Management Group, were among the lucky ones whose sentences were commuted. This decision was announced by the White House as part of a larger list that included 39 pardons and 1, 499 commutations.

Crundwell, now 71, was convicted in 2012 for embezzling nearly $54 million from the small town of Dixon over a decade. She used the money to fund her quarter horse business and a luxurious lifestyle. After serving about eight years of her nearly 20-year sentence, she was released to a halfway house in Downers Grove in 2021. Her sentence was set to end in 2028.

Bloom, 59, was convicted in 2012 for defrauding investors of over $665 million through his management firm in Northbrook. He was sentenced to 14 years in prison in 2015. He has been serving his sentence at a residential reentry facility in Florida and was due for release in 2026.

The White House stated that these commutations were granted to individuals who had been released to home confinement during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, not everyone is happy with this decision. Darin LaHood, a Republican U. S. Representative from Dixon, criticized Biden's action, saying it disregards the justice system and the rule of law. He argued that Crundwell's commutation is a slap in the face to the hardworking people of Dixon who were affected by her crime.

President Biden Shows Mercy to Notorious Chicago Fraudsters

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