Jesse Jackson Jr. and Sandi Jackson facing jail time and financial ruin

February 21, 2013 (WASHINGTON, D.C.) (WLS) -- Jesse Jackson Jr. and his wife Sandi are facing prison time and financial ruin.

Although he resides in Washington, D.C., Jesse Jackson Jr. can look to Dixon, Illinois for a glimpse at how his life will further unravel.

Dixon's high-riding comptroller Rita Crundwell plead guilty to stealing $53 million from the small northern Illinois community. The U.S. Marshal's Service quickly seized all of her assets and is in the process of selling-off the ones obtained through ill-gotten gains.

In Jackson's case, they’ll seize his elk heads, autographed guitar, a $43,000 Rolex and more.

“He will have to pay back the $750,000 that he stole,” U.S. Attorney Ronald Machen said yesterday, “Starting with forfeiting the furs, the guitars and the other celebrity memorabilia he purchased."

Federal investigators can also repossess the tens of thousands of Dollars worth of electronics and children's furniture purchased for the Jacksons’ Washington, D.C. home.

Inside the family's Chicago home, U.S. Marshals may also take the washer and dryer, range and refrigerator illegally purchased with campaign money.

As Machen pointed out yesterday, "He betrayed their trust.”

It was all unknowingly paid for dollar-by-dollar through the contributions of supporters.

Sandi Jackson's plea agreements dictate that she will have to pay the government more than $168,000 in restitution.

Crundwell’s auctions happened quickly because officials were dealing with live horses and other items with high value.

The Jacksons’ asset auction is still many months away, and it's doubtful that the fur capes, Michael Jackson memorabilia and the like will put much of a dent in the more than $750,000 the Jacksons owe the U.S. government.

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politics, ben bradley

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