Former Harvey School District 152 food service director Vera Liddell has been sentenced to nine years in prison for stealing $1.5 million worth of chicken wings intended for students during the COVID-19 pandemic. The theft was discovered when an audit revealed a $300,000 budget deficit in the food service department. Liddell placed orders for over 11,000 cases of chicken wings from Gordon Food Services between July 2020 and February 2022. She used a district cargo van to pick up the orders. Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones has offered to cover the cost of the stolen chicken wings in exchange for Liddell’s release from prison. Liddell’s fraudulent scheme took place while students were learning remotely and the district continued to provide meals for families to pick up. She would have students’ families pick up the meals, which included the stolen chicken wings. The school district’s business manager discovered the fraud when he found invoices for the chicken wings, which were not a part of the meals served to students. The school district and Gordon Food Services have not yet responded to inquiries.
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Chris Jones, Chiefs defensive tackle, volunteers to cover $1.5M for stolen chicken wings
