ROCKFORD – Saying she is “truly sorry,” a tearful Rita Crundwell was sentenced this morning to 19 years and 7 months in federal prison for pulling off what may be the biggest municipal theft in U.S. history.

The sentence is just 5 months shy of the maximum 20 years allowed. She will be on supervised release for 3 years after her sentence is served.

The disgraced former comptroller also must repay the city of Dixon the nearly $54 million she stole to pay for, among other things, her nationally renowned herd of 400 quarter horses, a ranch in Dixon, a vacation home in Florida, luxury cars and a motor home, furs, jewelry and all the trappings of a wealthy lifestyle – an unlikely feat, since the sale of most of her assets so far has brought only about $11 million.