(MCT) – Trophies, medals, ribbons and plaques line the walls, floors and even ceiling beams of a cozy log cabin attached to a barn on Rita Crundwell's Dixon ranch, a testament to her years of dominance in showing quarter horses around the country.

But Crundwell's roughly 400 quarter horses will hit the auction block next month as the former Dixon treasurer awaits trial on charges she stole $53 million from the small northwest Illinois town over nearly 22 years. Federal authorities allege that the massive thefts fueled Crundwell's lavish lifestyle and award-winning horse-breeding operation.