A former food service director for Harvey School District 152 in the Chicago area, Vera Liddell, has been sentenced to nine years in prison after admitting to stealing $1.5 million worth of chicken wings.
Liddell, 68, stole more than 11,000 cases of chicken wings meant for take-home meals for students doing remote learning from July 2020 to February 2022, according to local TV station WGN.
Liddell’s role as food service director involved placing food orders with Gordon Food Services, the district’s main supplier. Between July 2020 and February 2022, Liddell orchestrated an extensive embezzlement scheme by placing hundreds of unauthorized orders for chicken wings, diverting them from the school district’s supplies during the Covid-19 pandemic. These wings were intended for take-home meals for students who were learning remotely.
“The massive fraud began at the height of Covid during a time when students were not allowed to be physically present in school,” a court document from the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office revealed. “Even though the children were learning remotely, the school district continued to provide meals for the students that their families could pick up.”
The operation was uncovered in January 2022 when a midyear audit found the food service department had already exceeded its annual budget by $300,000. This prompted the district’s business manager to scrutinize the invoices and uncover unauthorized orders for chicken wings, an item not typically served to students because they contain bones. Surveillance footage showed Liddell using the district’s cargo vans to collect the chicken wings, which were never delivered to the students or the school.
During a court hearing, Liddell pleaded guilty to the charges, with her lawyer, Patrick O’Byrne, stating, “She feels incredibly distraught, terrible about what she did. She can’t even believe she did it.” Liddell reportedly suffers from a gambling problem, which has prevented her from paying restitution.
Chris Jones, a defensive tackle for the Kansas City Chiefs, offered to pay $1.5 million for Liddell’s freedom. “I’ll pay for the wings that she stole to get her free,” Jones wrote in a social media post. Liddell’s attorneys stated they had not been contacted by Jones or his representatives.
Dr. Reginald Lawrence, superintendent of the Harvey School District 152, and representatives for Gordon Food Service declined to comment on the case. The consequences of Liddell’s actions continue to resonate, highlighting vulnerabilities in oversight and accountability within school districts during the pandemic.
Liddell, 68, stole more than 11,000 cases of chicken wings meant for take-home meals for students doing remote learning from July 2020 to February 2022, according to local TV station WGN.
Liddell’s role as food service director involved placing food orders with Gordon Food Services, the district’s main supplier. Between July 2020 and February 2022, Liddell orchestrated an extensive embezzlement scheme by placing hundreds of unauthorized orders for chicken wings, diverting them from the school district’s supplies during the Covid-19 pandemic. These wings were intended for take-home meals for students who were learning remotely.
“The massive fraud began at the height of Covid during a time when students were not allowed to be physically present in school,” a court document from the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office revealed. “Even though the children were learning remotely, the school district continued to provide meals for the students that their families could pick up.”
The operation was uncovered in January 2022 when a midyear audit found the food service department had already exceeded its annual budget by $300,000. This prompted the district’s business manager to scrutinize the invoices and uncover unauthorized orders for chicken wings, an item not typically served to students because they contain bones. Surveillance footage showed Liddell using the district’s cargo vans to collect the chicken wings, which were never delivered to the students or the school.
During a court hearing, Liddell pleaded guilty to the charges, with her lawyer, Patrick O’Byrne, stating, “She feels incredibly distraught, terrible about what she did. She can’t even believe she did it.” Liddell reportedly suffers from a gambling problem, which has prevented her from paying restitution.
Chris Jones, a defensive tackle for the Kansas City Chiefs, offered to pay $1.5 million for Liddell’s freedom. “I’ll pay for the wings that she stole to get her free,” Jones wrote in a social media post. Liddell’s attorneys stated they had not been contacted by Jones or his representatives.
Dr. Reginald Lawrence, superintendent of the Harvey School District 152, and representatives for Gordon Food Service declined to comment on the case. The consequences of Liddell’s actions continue to resonate, highlighting vulnerabilities in oversight and accountability within school districts during the pandemic.
