In a case that has captured the attention of the public and media alike, a former food service director for a school district near Chicago was sentenced to nine years in prison by Judge Michele Pitman of the Circuit Court of Cook County’s Sixth Municipal District for stealing $1.5 million worth of chicken wings.
The story of Vera Liddell, 68, has been reported widely, detailing how she managed to order and steal over 11,000 cases of chicken wings from the Harvey School District during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The massive fraud began at the height of COVID during a time when students were not allowed to be physically present in school,” the 2023 document prepared by the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office said. “Even though the children were learning remotely, the school district continued to provide meals for the students that their families could pick up.”
Liddell, who worked as the food services director, exploited her role to order unauthorized food items through the school’s main supplier, Gordon Food Services, and the school was billed for these items. The crime was uncovered during an audit after the food service department exceeded its annual operating budget by $300,000 midway through the school year.
“Upon closer review, [the district manager] discovered individual invoices signed by Liddell for massive quantities of chicken wings, an item that was never served to students because they contain bones,” the court document said.
The guilty plea was part of a deal reached with the prosecutor’s office, said Patrick O’Byrne, one of Liddell’s attorneys. Mr. O’Byrne said that she has expressed “a great deal of remorse” for her actions. “She feels incredibly distraught, terrible about what she did,” he said. “She can’t even believe she did it.”
This incident raises questions about oversight and accountability in school districts and other public institutions. The fact that the stolen items were meant as take-home meals for students who were on remote learning during the pandemic adds a layer of concern regarding the welfare of the students who were dependent on these meals.
In a very brief post on social media on Monday, Chris Jones, a defensive tackle for the Kansas City Chiefs, offered to pay $1.5 million in an effort to gain Ms. Liddell’s freedom. He did not explain why he was willing to do so. However, Liddell’s attorneys had explained that she could not pay restitution because she has a gambling problem. “I’ll pay for the wings that she stole to get her free,” Mr. Jones wrote.
