Vera Liddell, who served as the food service director for Harvey School District 152 in Illinois, has been sentenced to nine years in prison after pleading guilty to embezzling $1.5 million worth of chicken wings. The scheme, which spanned from July 2020 to February 2022, involved the theft of 11,000 cases of wings meant to feed students during the COVID-19 pandemic.
As schools closed due to the pandemic, the district continued to provide meal kits to students learning remotely. Liddell, 68, used this opportunity to place large orders for chicken wings using district funds. However, these wings never reached the students. Instead, Liddell used a school cargo van to pick up the stolen goods, which were diverted for her personal use.
The theft went undetected until a routine audit in February 2022 revealed that the district’s food costs had exceeded the budget by $300,000 with several months still left in the school year. An investigation was launched, leading to Liddell’s arrest in January 2023. She was charged with theft and operating a criminal enterprise.
Liddell, who had been in her role for a decade, pled guilty to the charges and was sentenced to nine years in prison. The case has highlighted the need for stricter oversight within school districts to prevent financial misconduct, particularly during emergencies when resources are most needed.
