A woman who worked at a school in the United States has been sentenced to nine years in prison for stealing a massive amount of chicken wings. Vera Liddell, 68, was the food services director at Harvey School District 152 in Illinois. She used her position to steal over 11,000 cases of chicken wings, valued at $1.5 million (₹ 12.5 crore). These wings were intended to feed students during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Liddell allegedly arranged for the chicken wings from the school district’s supplier and collected the order using a district cargo van. The crime was uncovered when the district noticed a significant budget overrun. A school business manager, conducting a routine audit, discovered that food expenses were $300,000 (₹ 2.5 crore) over budget with several months left in the school year. This led to Liddell’s arrest.
Prosecutors revealed that the theft occurred at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, a time when students were learning remotely. Despite this, the school district continued to provide meals for students that their families could pick up. However, the stolen chicken wings never reached the students.
Liddell’s criminal activity began in July 2020 and continued until February 2022. In January 2023, she was charged with theft and running a criminal enterprise. Liddell, who had served as the food service director for a decade, pleaded guilty to the charges before being sentenced to nine years in prison.
This case highlights the abuse of power and the impact of such actions on students who were supposed to benefit from the stolen resources. Despite the unprecedented circumstances of the pandemic, Liddell’s actions represent a blatant disregard for the well-being of the students and the trust placed in her.
