When a Chicago defense lawyer saw reports about an NFL star offering over $1 million to help a local cafeteria worker, he initially thought it was a scam.
However, Patrick O’Byrne later received confirmation from someone representing Chris Jones that the Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle indeed tweeted, “I’ll pay for the wings that she stole to get her free.”
Vera Liddell, who was a cafeteria consultant for an Illinois school district, admitted to stealing $1.5 million worth of chicken wings—11,000 cases—between July 2020 and February 2022.
The wings were meant for underprivileged children receiving free lunches during the pandemic, according to her other lawyer, Gregory LaPapa.
Liddell, a 68-year-old with no prior criminal record, reportedly made false orders of wings, resold them, and used the money for gambling.
O’Byrne described Liddell as a church-going woman with a gambling problem, emphasizing that her actions were out of character and driven by her addiction. Records show she had financial struggles and filed for bankruptcy in 2009 and 2016.
On August 9, Liddell pleaded guilty to felony theft of over $1 million and was sentenced to 9 years in prison. She will be eligible for parole in 2029 and is set to be released on August 3, 2030. Her sentence, typically ranging from six to 30 years, was influenced by the credit for time already served.
On August 14, Liddell was admitted to Logan Correctional Facility, and that same day, O’Byrne learned of Jones’s tweet. He was surprised by the offer and spent considerable time trying to reach the Chiefs, eventually speaking to someone who seemed to represent Jones.
Despite the offer, Liddell’s lawyers face challenges because she is already serving her sentence. They have 30 days from her sentencing to file a motion to vacate her plea and request restitution.
“The clock is ticking,” said LaPapa, urging Chris Jones to act quickly.
