Former Plymouth Schools official charged in fraud case
A former Plymouth Public Schools administrator is facing federal charges after prosecutors say he stole food and equipment for more than a decade to operate a private beachside business.
Patrick Van Cott, 64, of Sandwich, was charged with one count of theft concerning programs receiving federal funds and two counts of wire fraud, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Boston. He is expected to appear in federal court at a later date.
Prosecutors allege Van Cott, who served as the district’s director of food services from 2003 until June 2025, used school-purchased supplies to run a seasonal business known as the Snack Shack on Sandy Neck Beach in Barnstable.
According to the charging document, the alleged scheme began around 2014 and continued through June 2025. Authorities say Van Cott took food and commercial kitchen equipment purchased with school funds, including money from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and used those items at the Snack Shack.
Investigators allege the equipment included refrigerators, a freezer, hot plates, a griddle, a chargrill, a fryolator, shelving, a sandwich prep table and a convection oven. The complaint also states that each summer, Van Cott collected food products such as condiments, chicken, hot dogs, snacks and coffee, along with paper goods, and sold them at the beach business.
He is further accused of directing cafeteria workers to prepare deli meats that were then used in menu items at the Snack Shack on a regular basis.
Authorities also allege Van Cott ordered more than $3,000 in premium burger patties using school funds to sell through the business.
The National School Lunch Program, which helped fund some of the food purchases, is a federally assisted program that provides free or low cost meals to public school students. Schools are reimbursed through a mix of federal and state funding.
If convicted, Van Cott faces up to 10 years in prison for the theft charge and up to 20 years for each wire fraud count, along with potential fines and supervised release.
The case was announced by U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley, along with officials from the FBI and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General. The Plymouth Police Department assisted in the investigation.
The allegations outlined in the charging document have not been proven in court, and Van Cott is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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