Illinois School Worker Sentenced To 9 Years In Prison For Stealing Chicken!

An Illinois school worker was sentenced to nine years in prison after she stole over 11,000 cases of chicken that, in total, reached a value of $1.5 million.

Vera Liddell, the former food service director at Harvey School District, stole $1.5 million worth of chicken meant for students during the COVID pandemic in 2020.

Liddell, 68, started her scheme in July 2020 and was eventually stopped in February 2022.

According to court documents, Liddel “placed orders for the chicken wings from July 2020 to February 2022, billing the district but keeping the food.”

Liddel was caught after an audit revealed the school district was over $300,000 over its annual budget.

A school district employee in Chicago will face multiple years in prison after she stole $1.5 million worth of chicken wings. https://t.co/Se9OM67cyK

— WEAR ABC 3 (@weartv) August 12, 2024

Former Illinois School Employee Gets 9 Years Behind Bars in $1.5 Million Chicken Wing Theft Case

Full details here: https://t.co/F7ddQZIlwQ pic.twitter.com/Y3Y15gQYpj

— Complex (@Complex) August 12, 2024

Check out what The New York Post reported:

An Illinois school worker will spend the next nine years in prison after she stole 11,000 cases of chicken wings worth $1.5 million that were meant for students during the height of the COVID pandemic, prosecutors said.

Vera Liddell used her position as the food service director at Harvey School District 152 to carry out the unappetizing crime that was only unearthed after the district realized the school system blew past its budget, prosecutors reportedly said.

Liddell, 68, started the scheme in July 2020 and didn’t stop until February 2022, the Cook County State Attorney’s Office said, according to ABC 7 Chicago.

While she bought up the incredible amount of poultry and used a school cargo van to pick up the food, students never saw a single wing, prosecutors said, per WGN.

Schools were closed, but the district near Chicago was still sending out meal kits to students in remote learning during the height of the pandemic.

It is being called the largest fried chicken theft in human history!

Vera Liddell, 68, was food service director for Harvey, IL school district.

She got 9 years for stealing $1.5 mil in chicken wings that were supposed to have been given to poor families during the lockdown! pic.twitter.com/9VHmBXyvPx

— National Conservative (@NatCon2022) August 12, 2024

Per ABC News:

The former food service director for a south suburban school district pleaded guilty to stealing $1.5 million worth of chicken wings over a 19-month period, court records show.

Vera Liddell, 66, who worked for Harvey School District 152 for more than 10 years, has been sentenced to nine years in prison.

Liddell was responsible for placing orders with Gordon Food Services, a main supplier for the district, according to prosecutors. She placed orders for the chicken wings from July 2020 to February 2022, billing the district but keep the food, prosecutors said.

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