DIXON — If you stood by the side of the road on most days, you could see Rita Crundwell riding and training her horses at the Meri-J Ranch in Beloit, Wis.

You could still see that sight even after the former comptroller's arrest in connection with what authorities are calling the biggest municipal fraud in U.S. history.

"It's hard to read people sometimes," said Jason Wojdylo, chief inspector of the U.S. Marshals Service's asset forfeiture division. "I do believe that she recognizes the seriousness of what's going on."