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An Illinois school cafeteria worker is facing charges after she stole $1.5 million worth of chicken wings.
On Friday (August 9), former Harvey School District director Vera Liddell pleaded guilty to charges of theft and operating a criminal enterprise in connection to the crime and was sentenced to nine years in prison, per CBS News.
According to prosecutors, Liddell, who previously served as the food service director for the Chicago school district, began placing chicken wing orders with the district's main food supplier in July 2020. She kept the food for nearly two years despite charging the district.
The district discovered the theft after its food service department exceeded its annual budget by $300,000 in the middle of the year.
According to court records obtained by CBS, Liddell allegedly ordered more than 11,000 cases of chicken wings.
The food was intended to be used for students to take home meals while they were learning remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"The massive fraud began at the height of COVID during a time when students were not allowed to be physically present in school," prosecutors said in a statement. "Even though the children were learning remotely, the school district continued to provide meals for the students that their families could pick up."
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