rita crundwell appears to be a >>> in this episode of american greed, ride 'em, cow girl. rita appeared to be a humble civil servant. living a double life as a world champion horse breeder and deception comes at a huge price. >> the thing i've learned about showing horses, you must be either independently wealthy or you're stealing money. >> when she diverts $53 million of money into her horse empire, she leaves a city on the verge of collapse. >> people are going to have to lose their jobs to balance this budget for, what, a horse? a trophy are you kidding me >> narrator: in the fall of 2011, as autumn leaves begin to warm the landscape of the >>> in the fall of 2011, as autumn leaves begin to warm the landscape of the picturesque town of dixon, illinois, a cold reality is taking hold >> the city was drowning in debt there were streets that went unpaved. there were sidewalks that went unfixed because the city, as they believed, had no money to take care of those sorts of things >> dixon mayor jim burke hears the message of distress year after year, comptroller rita crumb w