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 stealing $1.5 million worth of chicken wings intended for students during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The scheme, which prosecutors described as a “clucking shame,” involved the theft of 11,000 cases of chicken wings over a period of more than a year.
Liddell, 68, began her operation in July 2020, taking advantage of her position to place large orders of chicken wings using the district’s funds. Despite schools being closed due to the pandemic, the district continued to distribute meal kits to students engaged in remote learning. However, the students never received the wings that Liddell had ordered.
The theft was uncovered after a school business manager noticed that the district’s food costs had exceeded the budget by $300,000, even though there were still several months remaining in the school year. This discrepancy prompted an audit, which ultimately led to Liddell’s arrest in January 2023. She was charged with theft and operating a criminal enterprise.
Liddell, who had served as the food service director for 10 years, used a school cargo van to pick up the stolen poultry. Prosecutors revealed that she continued her scheme until February 2022, when the full extent of her actions was finally brought to light.
After pleading guilty to the charges, Liddell was sentenced to nine years in prison. The case highlights the severe consequences of exploiting a position of trust for personal gain, particularly during a time when resources were critically needed to support students during the pandemic.
