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School Official Charged in Chicken Wing Theft

Chicken Wing
Spicy Chicken Wings | Image by Brent Hofacker/Shutterstock

A school administrator was charged in connection with the alleged theft of more than a million dollars of chicken wings in Illinois.

Vera Liddell, the food service director for Harvey School District 152, just south of Chicago, has been arrested after authorities accused her of stealing $1.5 million worth of food, mainly chicken wings, per court documents reviewed by WGN Investigates.

Liddell was caught by the district’s business manager when a routine audit indicated the district was $300,000 over its annual budget just halfway through the year. Then, a further review found invoices for thousands of chicken wings — a food that District 152 does not serve to students.

“She discovered individual invoices signed by Liddell for massive quantities of chicken wings, an item that was never served to students because they contain bones,” said prosecutors.

Court records note that employees from Gordon Food Service were familiar with the defendant “due to the massive amount of chicken wings she would purchase,” according to The Washington Post.

Over 19 months, spanning from July 2020 to February 2022, records indicate the defendant ordered over 11,000 cases of chicken wings.

“The district cannot comment at this time because of an ongoing investigation. However, we are fully cooperating with the authorities regarding this matter,” said Barbara Mason, interim superintendent for District 152.

As reported by TODAY.com, the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office confirmed that Liddell was released from jail after paying 10% of her $150,000 bail. The next court appearance for Liddell is set for February 22 at the Sixth District Courthouse.

The Cook County Public Defender’s Office defending Liddell did not immediately respond to requests by The Dallas Express regarding additional comments.

While Chicago and its suburbs have been known for high property crime rates, a similar dynamic has been playing out in North Texas, with Dallas leading the way with more than 30,344 different reported instances of theft in 2022, the result of two years of increases unchecked by City leaders.

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8 Comments

  1. Bill

    And this school didn’t t even serve wings! You cant make this up.
    Where do they hire these folks? HISD/DISD comes to mind.

    Reply
    • Investigator

      Do you know what school they are talking about

      Reply
  2. Marsha

    What I want to know–what does one do with $1.5 million of chicken wings? Cater the Super Bowl?

    Reply
  3. John Gault

    Look up who Vera Liddell is on Google. More black on black crime.
    It’s always amazed me how voters believe if they vote for a person that is the same race or nationality they are in the community that somehow those elected officials are immune from corruption and will somehow do better than a person that doesn’t look like them This is just another example of that type of voter ignorance.
    Being this story is out of the Chicago area I’m also not surprised. How Lori Lightfoot ever got elected or is still in office with all the murders taking place there is beyond anything a civilized society should put up with.

    Reply
  4. John Gault

    One question I have for the editors at The Dallas Express, why did you choose to run a stock photo of chicken wings and not the readily available booking photo of the accused?
    The story is not about chicken wigs per say but about the person accused of the crime. So it seems obvious to me thats what the lead photo should have been.
    I’m begging to question your journalistic integrity with regards to this story.

    Reply
    • Arnie Leckband

      WOW ! I am surprised at the previous remark! The story WAS about chicken wings & theft, so why not a photo of a plate full of WINGS?

      Reply
  5. Anna S

    No surprise here that a black democrat aka democrat would be stupid enough to order, sign and make off with a theft of over $1M in Chicken Wings. So the question remains will this criminal get away with it or just get a slap on the wrist for her crime. OMGosh Chicago is a crime ridden city like it was when the mob was active!!! I don’t even want to visit Chicago!!!

    Reply
  6. Investigator

    Does anyone even know what school the are talking about, district 152 has several schools

    Reply

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