Suburban School Worker Stole 11K Cases of Chicken Wings in $1.5M Embezzlement Scheme: Court Docs

Such an unusual Story.


Prosecutors allege Vera Liddell placed hundreds of unauthorized orders for food items, particularly chicken wings, between July 2020 and February 2022.

Cook County prosecutors have charged the former head of food services at a south suburban school district of engaging in a massive embezzlement scheme in which she allegedly stole more than 11,000 cases of chicken wings and $1.5 million in taxpayer funds over a 19-month period, court documents revealed.

Vera Liddell, who worked as the director of food services at Harvey School District 152, was charged with felony continuing financial crimes enterprise and theft exceeding $1,000,000, also a felony, according to a proffer filed in Cook County Circuit Court.

Prosecutors allege Liddell placed hundreds of unauthorized orders for food items, particularly chicken wings, with the district's main supplier, Gordon Food Services, from July 2020 to February 2022. While Liddell placed the orders separate from the district's legitimate orders, Gordon Food Services billed the school district for the items, believing Liddell was authorized to make the purchases on its behalf, court documents state.

https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/suburban-school-cafeteria-worker-stole-11k-cases-of-chicken-wings-in-1-5m-embezzlement-scheme-prosecutors/3058487/?amp=1