In a shocking turn of events, a former food service director for an Illinois school district has been sentenced to nine years in prison for stealing a staggering $1.5 million worth of chicken wings. The incident took place during the height of the coronavirus pandemic, adding to the gravity of the situation.
The accused, identified as a 68-year-old woman, was working for Harvey School District 152 when the theft occurred. She reportedly placed orders for the chicken wings with a food provider for the district, Gordon Food Services, over a period spanning from July 2020 to February 2022. Instead of distributing the food to the students as intended, she billed the district for the orders while keeping the chicken wings for herself.
It was revealed that the former employee ordered an astonishing 11,000 cases of chicken wings from the food provider and personally picked up the orders using a district cargo van. This devious act took place while schools were closed due to the pandemic, although the district was still providing meal kits to students engaged in remote learning.
The scheme came to light when the district's business manager stumbled upon the invoices for the poultry during a routine mid-year audit. The discovery raised suspicions as chicken wings, which typically contain bones, were not part of the standard menu for students. The audit further unveiled that the district's food service department had exceeded its annual budget by $300,000 with half of the school year still remaining.
As a result of her actions, the former employee was charged with theft and operating a criminal enterprise in January 2023. The severity of the crime led to her receiving a nine-year prison sentence, underscoring the consequences of her fraudulent behavior.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of transparency and accountability in all aspects of public service, particularly when it comes to the well-being of students and the allocation of resources in educational institutions.
