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This is an archive article published on August 13, 2024
Former Illinois school food director sentenced for stealing $1.5 million in chicken wings
Prosecutors say Liddell, 68, ordered over 11,000 cases of chicken wings from the district's supplier and kept them for herself instead of giving them to students.
Chicken wings, known for their bones, are not a typical item served in school meal programs. (Wikimedia Commons photo)
Vera Liddell, a former food service director for Harvey School District 152 in Illinois, has been sentenced to nine years in prison after pleading guilty to a massive theft involving $1.5 million worth of chicken wings.
The fraudulent activity occurred between July 2020 and February 2022, a period marked by widespread school closures due to the coronavirus pandemic.
According to prosecutors, Liddell, 68, exploited her position to place orders for over 11,000 cases of chicken wings from the district’s food supplier, Gordon Food Services. Instead of distributing the chicken wings to students, Liddell kept the food for herself.
The district’s business manager discovered the scheme during a routine mid-year audit when discrepancies in invoices for poultry were flagged. Chicken wings, known for their bones, are not a typical item served in school meal programs.
The audit revealed that the district’s food service department had exceeded its annual budget by $300,000 with half of the school year still remaining.
This budget overrun raised suspicions, leading to a deeper investigation that uncovered Liddell’s embezzlement.
The stolen chicken wings were picked up using a district cargo van, a clear misuse of district resources.
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Liddell, who had worked for Harvey School District 152 for over a decade, was charged with theft and operating a criminal enterprise in January 2023.
Her actions have resulted in significant financial damage to the district and have eroded trust in its food service operations.
(With inputs from Fox News)
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