Elderly Woman Sentenced for Funding Gambling Addiction via Stolen Chicken
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Following her sentencing, Chris Jones, from Super Bowl winners Kansas City Chiefs offered to pay back the money she stole in exchange for her release.
Background of the Case
The case dates back to July 2020. At the time, Liddell was a food director for South Chicago schools. This was during the COVID-19 pandemic, and while kids were at home learning remotely, families could pick up meals provided by the school if they needed them.
As time went on, Liddell continuously placed large orders of chicken wings from the school’s food supplier, Gordon Food Service. The school was billed, and they paid. However, they discovered they were over $300,000 over budget following a 2022 audit.
In all, the chicken was worth $1.5 million and there were about 11,000 cases of it. Liddell would pick up the chicken using a school cargo van.
She Stole the Chicken Because of a Gambling Addiction
According to her attorney, Patrick O’Byrne, Liddell stole the chicken because of a gambling addiction.
“She’s just a little sweetheart that’s got a gambling problem,” says O’Byrne, adding: “She feels beyond terrible about this. This is totally uncharacteristic of her. It was the disease taking over.”
In the aftermath of this sentencing, Jones learned about the case on X, quoted a post, and offered to pay the $1.5 million.
Liddell’s attorney said he’s been in contact with those representing Jones and hopes everything works out. Regardless of whether he pays or not, though, Liddell has been sentenced and placed in state custody as a felon.
Now we wait to see if Jones’s assistance will help get Liddell out of prison.
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