Former Director of Food Services for Plymouth Public Schools Sentenced for Stealing Food and Equipment for Side Business

BOSTON - The former Director of Plymouth Public Schools' Food Services program pleaded guilty was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for a long-running fraud scheme that began in 2014 in which he stole food and commercial kitchen equipment for use and sale at his private business, the "Snack Shack," on Sandy Neck Beach in Barnstable, Mass.

Patrick Van Cott, 64, of Sandwich, Mass., was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Julia E. Kobick to six months in prison, to be followed by two years of supervised release. The defendant was also ordered to pay a $2,000 fine as well as restitution in an amount that will be determined at a later date. In May 2026, Van Cott pleaded guilty to one count of theft concerning programs receiving federal funds and two counts of wire fraud. Van Cott was charged in April 2026.

Van Cott was the Director of Food Services for the Plymouth Public Schools from 2003 until June 2025. Beginning in 2014, he also operated a seasonal business, the "Snack Shack," on Sandy Neck Beach.

Between 2014 and June 2025, Van Cott defrauded the Plymouth Public Schools by taking food and equipment purchased with funds, including U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) funds, and using it to run the Snack Shack. The equipment Van Cott ordered with school funds included two $2,200 refrigerators; a $3,950 two-door freezer; two 12-inch hot plates; a 24-inch griddle; a chargrill; a fryolator; shelving; a sandwich prep table; a convection oven; and chalk boards. In addition, every summer beginning in approximately 2014, Van Cott collected condiments, diced chicken, hot dogs, cooking oil, snacks, paper goods, coffee, food products and other miscellaneous items paid for by the Plymouth Public Schools or supplied by the USDA, then used and sold those items at the Snack Shack. Additionally, once or twice per week every summer starting in 2014, Van Cott directed Plymouth Public Schools cafeteria workers to slice at least nine pounds of deli turkey and 4.5 pounds of deli ham which he then sold at the Snack Shack. Van Cott also ordered over $3,000 in premium burger patties with school funds, which he intended to and did sell in menu items at the Snack Shack.

The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted program administered on the federal level by the USDA that provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to public school children. In Massachusetts, meals for all students are free, and schools are reimbursed for meals through a combination of USDA funds and state funds.

United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Charmeka Parker, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Agriculture - Office of Inspector General, Northeast Region made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Plymouth Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristina E. Barclay of the Public Corruption & Special Prosecutions Unit prosecuted the case.