Sam Amico
It takes some serious dedication to steal more than $1 million in chicken wings, but one former Chicago school administrator allegedly found a way.
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Vera Liddell, the suspect in question, is the former director of food services at Harvey School District 152. She has been accused by the Cook County prosecutor of embezzling chicken wings that cost taxpayers about $1.5 million
So it wasn’t really chicken wings, per say, that she was stealing. It was more like cash. Chicken wings were just the vehicle. Even so, it’s an odd way to go about trying to get rich quickly.
According to the state attorney’s office, Liddell placed unauthorized orders for a total of 11,000 cases of chicken wings through the school district, from July 2020 to February 2022. The school was billed more than $1.5 million by district vendor Gordon Food Service as a result.
$1.5 Million Worth of Food Allegedly Stolen
Now, if you’re Gordon Food Service, no big deal. You’re making a million bucks off your wings, likely an unheard-of sum. But for the school district, well, let’s just say it started to raise some eyebrows. Kids like chicken wings and all — but come on.
This was especially true since the district actually paid all the bills.
Anyway, Liddell was caught on surveillance video showing up at Gordon Food Services in a cargo van to pick up the orders but then leaving them in the van. The wings were never brought to school or the students, prosecutors said.
Interestingly, the school was merely paying for food. It doesn’t even serve chicken wings, since they contain bones.
For now, though, the school district is avoiding discussing the matter.
“The district cannot comment at this time because of an ongoing investigation,” Interim Supt. Lela Bridges said in a statement. “However, we are fully cooperating with the authorities regarding this matter.”
As for what Liddell did with the wings … it appears that too remains a mystery. “Prosecutors said it wasn’t clear what she did with the chicken wings,” CBS News reported.
