Illinois community uproarred after Biden pardoned fraudster involved in $53M embezzlement case.

The woman involved in the largest municipal embezzlement scandal in U.S. history was added to President Biden's list of clemency controversies, causing outrage among a small Illinois community.

Rita Crundwell, the former Dixon, Illinois comptroller who stole nearly $54 million from the town over 22 years and pleaded guilty to the crime in 2012, had her sentence commuted as part of a broader commutation last Thursday, making her one of 1,500 - the most ever granted by a president in a single day.

Some state lawmakers and local officials are displeased with her escaping without consequences.

On February 14th, 2013, at Rita's sentencing, the judge emphasized the need for a significant prison sentence to restore public trust and confidence. However, what has transpired in the last week has left many in disbelief and feeling betrayed by the federal criminal justice system, as stated by Danny Langloss, the city manager of Dixon, on "Fox & Friends First" on Tuesday.

The police chief at the time of Crundwell's arrest, Langloss, stated that the rural Illinois community was "shocked," "outraged," and in "disbelief" over the news of her commutation. He called it a "complete disservice to all the victims of her crime" and to the "sanctity and the trust of the criminal justice system."

Biden's blanket move commuted the prison sentence for a corrupt judge involved in the "cash-for-kids" scheme, who imposed sentences on juveniles in exchange for millions of dollars in return.

On Tuesday, Langloss stated that this type of governance is lazy and an abuse of authority and power.

"We are outraged that Rita was released, despite the work I have done as a police officer in protecting children, promoting alternatives to detention, and studying the impact of detention on children. It is unacceptable that the judge responsible for this mistake was able to walk free and have a day taken off their sentence, while we feel that we got it so wrong."

The White House announced last week that 1,500 commutations granted during the COVID-19 pandemic have been extended to individuals who have successfully reintegrated into their families and communities.

The President's record of criminal justice reform is being built upon through these actions, which aim to reunite families, strengthen communities, and reintegrate individuals back into society. The President has already issued more sentence commutations in his presidency than any of his recent predecessors at the same point in their first terms.

Last week, Karine Jean-Pierre, the White House press secretary, emphasized the significance of "second chances" during her comments on the commutation.

Illinois Republican Rep. Darren LaHood issued a statement criticizing the "sweeping" commutation.

"While many families in Dixon were struggling financially, she exploited their trust in government and lived a lavish lifestyle at their expense, which the FBI still considers the largest theft of public funds in U.S. history," he stated. "Commuting her 20-year sentence is a disgrace to the hardworking police officers, firefighters, city workers, and residents of Dixon."

Democratic Rep. Eric Sorensen was also critical.

"She pleaded guilty, received the maximum sentence, but only served eight years," he stated in a Facebook post.

"Getting off scot-free today is such a load of BS."

In recent weeks, criticism has been directed at Biden regarding his son's pardon and other commutations, including a corrupt Pennsylvania judge who received kickbacks in exchange for sentencing minors to juvenile detention.

Planet Chronicle' Bailee Hill contributed to this report.