Suburban school worker pleads guilty to stealing $1.5M worth of chicken wings from district

HARVEY, Ill. — WGN Investigates has an update to a story that was first reported than a year ago.

A south suburban school worker has pled guilty to stealing $1.5 millions worth of food, mainly chicken wings .

Vera Liddell was the food service director for Harvey School District 152.

Cook County prosecutors accused her of stealing massive amounts of food meant for take-home meals for students learning remotely during the pandemic.

The Cook County State’s Attorney tells WGN Investigates that Liddell entered a guilty plea Friday and received a 9-year prison sentence.

Court records accuse Liddell of ordering more than 11,000 cases of chicken wings from the school district’s food provider and then picking-up the order in a district cargo van.

The scheme was uncovered by the district’s business manager during a routine mid-year audit.

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