Former Plymouth Schools Food Director Federally Charged in Decade-Long $100,000 Theft Scheme
BOSTON — April 22, 2026 — Federal prosecutors have officially charged Patrick Van Cott, the former Director of Food Services for Plymouth Public Schools, in connection with a massive, multi-year fraud scheme. Van Cott is accused of stealing over $100,000 in food and commercial kitchen equipment—funded by taxpayers and the USDA—to supply his private side business on Cape Cod.
The Full Story
According to federal charging documents released today, Patrick Van Cott, 64, allegedly utilized his position as the head of Plymouth’s school cafeterias to divert significant district resources to his private seasonal business, the “Snack Shack” located at Sandy Neck Beach in Barnstable.
The investigation, which gained momentum following a June 2025 state-level arrest, reveals a scheme that allegedly spanned more than a decade, from 2014 through June 2025. Prosecutors allege Van Cott used school funds to purchase high-end items that were never intended for student trays, including:
Premium Meats & Seafood: Large quantities of lobster meat and premium Angus beef patties.
Commercial Equipment: Industrial refrigerators (including two $2,200 units), a $3,950 freezer, griddles, fryolators, and convection ovens.
General Supplies: Coffee, condiments, paper goods, and miscellaneous snacks.
Surveillance footage reportedly captured Van Cott loading commercial-grade equipment and boxes of food into his personal vehicle at the Plymouth Community Intermediate School loading dock during weekends. A search warrant executed at the Snack Shack later recovered an industrial-sized refrigerator and bins of government-issued food.
Van Cott, who earned a salary of approximately $114,000 before being fired in 2025, now faces federal charges of theft concerning programs receiving federal funds and wire fraud.
“These charges are significant and he has effectively destroyed the trust of the town and the taxpayers... who rely on the money that is earmarked for children in need of school breakfast and lunch.” — Elizabeth O’Connell, Assistant District Attorney (from initial 2025 proceedings)
Federal Charges Filed (April 2026)
Charge 1: Theft concerning programs receiving federal funds
Potential Penalty: Up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.
Charge 2: Wire Fraud (Two counts)
Potential Penalty: Up to 20 years in prison per count, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.
What’s Next
Van Cott is scheduled to make an initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Boston at a later date. He remains under pre-trial release conditions following his previous state-level arraignment.
Source Press Release: U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Massachusetts