(MCT) — CHICAGO — Rita Crundwell, once the trusted comptroller of Dixon, Ill., entered her name into the record book of Illinois embezzlers Wednesday when she pleaded guilty to stealing tens of millions of dollars in public funds — a plea she made, her lawyer said, because she wanted to spare taxpayers the expense of a trial.

Crundwell's case has unfolded with spectacular excess over the last seven months after authorities charged she had long diverted city money to a secret bank account in her name. In recent years the thefts had grown bolder as she stole $100,000, $200,000, even $350,000 at a time, according to authorities. Eventually, her thefts exceeded the annual budgets for the police and fire departments combined.