A former food service director for Harvey School District 152, Vera Liddell, has been sentenced to nine years in prison for orchestrating a $1.5 million food theft operation. Liddell, 67, pleaded guilty to charges of theft and operating a criminal enterprise, admitting to stealing large quantities of food, including thousands of cases of chicken wings, intended for students learning remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Fraud during a time of crisis
Liddell’s scheme began at the height of the pandemic when students were learning from home. Despite remote learning, the district continued to provide take-home meals for students, many of whom come from low-income families. Liddell exploited this arrangement, ordering over 11,000 cases of chicken wings between July 2020 and February 2022 from the district’s food provider. She picked up the food in a district cargo van, using school funds to pay for the orders, which never made it to the students.
Audit uncovers massive fraud
The fraudulent activity came to light during a routine mid-year audit, which revealed the district was $300,000 over its annual food service budget, despite being only halfway through the school year. Further investigation by the district’s business manager revealed Liddell had signed invoices for large quantities of chicken wings, an item not served to students due to the presence of bones. The fate of the stolen food remains unknown.
The theft has had a significant impact on the district, where more than 80 percent of the 1,600 students qualify as low-income. The funds used for the stolen food were meant to support these students and their families during a challenging time. Liddell’s actions have drawn widespread condemnation, highlighting the vulnerabilities within systems meant to protect and support the community’s most vulnerable members.
