Illinois school official sentenced for $1. 5 million chicken wing theft operation

Illinois School Official Sentenced for $1.5 Million Chicken Wing Theft Operation

by
August 13, 2024
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CHICAGO, IL — Vera Liddell, a former food service director for the Harvey School District 152 near Chicago, has been sentenced to nine years in prison after pleading guilty to stealing $1.5 million worth of chicken wings.

Liddell was responsible for placing food orders for the district and used her position to order over 11,000 cases of chicken wings, which she kept for herself. This scheme ran from July 2020 to February 2022.

She was charged in January 2023 with operating a criminal enterprise and theft.

Illinois school official sentenced for $1. 5 million chicken wing theft operation
Photo: illinois school official sentenced for $1. 5 million chicken wing theft operation

The theft was discovered in 2023 when the district’s food service department noticed a budget overrun of $300,000. The district’s business manager found the invoices for the wings, leading to the uncovering of the theft.

Phil Stilton

Phil Stilton

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