For those who missed out on Black Friday deals, the federal government wants to help with a Cyber Monday auction.
The U.S. Marshals Service will hold a series of online auctions where anyone can bid on items that were seized during two fraud investigations, according to a statement from the agency. Proceeds will go to victims of those crimes.
Beginning Monday, the public can bid on assets seized from Rita Crundwell, the former comptroller of Dixon, in Lee County. Crundwell is serving a 20-year sentence in federal prison. She was convicted in 2012 of stealing more than $53.7 million from the city over two decades, the Marshals Service statement said. There will be more than 390 lots in the auction ending Dec. 1, including 150 belt buckles.
The next two auctions will feature a wine collection from prominent wine dealer Rudy Kurniawan, serving a 10-year sentence for fraud, authorities said. The first auction will run from Monday to Dec. 8 and features 537 lots, including a collection of about 2,800 bottles of wine. A separate auction for another 1,900 bottles will run from Dec. 1 to Dec. 15.
“Cyber Monday is generally thought to be the start of the online holiday shopping season,” Jason Wojdylo, chief inspector of the U.S. Marshals Service Asset Forfeiture Division, said in the statement. “We would like to encourage shoppers who are already online in search of bargains to consider stopping by our auction website to bid on forfeited assets.”
To access the auctions, go to http://www.usmarshals.gov/assets/sales.htm.
