Federal Charges Filed Against Former Plymouth Schools Food Director

BOSTON (WBSM) — The former director of Plymouth Public Schools’ Food Services program has now been federally charged for allegedly stealing food and commercial kitchen equipment for his private business on a Cape Cod beach.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Patrick Van Cott, 64, of Sandwich was charged with one count of theft concerning programs receiving federal funds and two counts of wire fraud.

He was previously charged in Plymouth District Court in June 2025 with larceny over $1,200 by a single scheme and larceny from a building.

Who Is Patrick Van Cott?

Van Cott, who served as Director of Food Services for Plymouth Public Schools from 2003 until June 2025, also operated the Snack Shack on Sandy Neck Beach in Barnstable beginning in 2014.

READ MORE: Plymouth Schools Food Services Director Accused of Stealing Food and Equipment

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Allegations Tied to Cape Cod Snack Shack

It is alleged that between 2014 and June 2025, Van Cott was taking from Plymouth schools food and equipment that had been purchased with funds, including U.S. Department of Agriculture funds, and using them to run the Snack Shack.

Van Cott allegedly used school funds to order 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 hanging chalkboards.

Surveillance Video and Evidence

He was caught on surveillance video taking two under-the-counter commercial refrigerators from a school on a Saturday. The video allegedly showed him loading one onto a town truck and departing, then returning to the school in his personal pickup truck and loading the second onto his own vehicle.

Van Cott also allegedly “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, which he then used and sold those items at Snack Shack” every summer going back to 2014, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

“He is further alleged to have directed Plymouth Public Schools cafeteria workers to slice at least nine pounds of deli turkey and 4.5 pounds of deli ham, which he sold in various menu items at the Snack Shack, once or twice per week starting in 2014,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office said. “Van Cott is also alleged to have 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.”

Potential Penalties If Convicted

Van Cott will make an initial appearance in federal court in Boston at a later date. If convicted, the charge of theft concerning programs receiving federal funds provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. The wire fraud charge could mean up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine.