Cynthia Landore Faces Possible Jail Time

February 8, 2012 – ABINGDON, VIRGINIA — The former Postmaster of the Hiltons, Virginia Post Office pled guilty this morning in the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia in Abingdon to embezzlement charges.

Cynthia K. Landore, 56, of Bristol, Tenn., was indicted in November 2011 on a variety of charges related to her work as the Postmaster. This morning in District Court, Landore pled guilty to one count of embezzlement of postal funds and one count of embezzlement of public property. At sentencing, Landore faces a maximum possible penalty of 10 years in prison and/or a fine of up to $250,000 on each count. The defendant has also agreed to pay restitution in an amount of not less than $34,022.

“Ms. Landore violated the trust placed in her by the United States Postal Service in order to line her own pockets,” United States Attorney Timothy J. Heaphy said today. “Her greed prompted her to steal from postal customers and embezzle money to which she was not entitled. This office will prosecute anyone who misuses the public trust, particularly those public servants who handle taxpayer funds.”

Landore admitted today that between June 2010 and July 2011, while working as the Postmaster at the Hiltons Post Office, she embezzled approximately $30,057 by unlawfully converting funds from the sale of money orders for her personal use. The defendant also admitted to embezzling funds from the sale of stamps for her personal use.

The investigation of the case was conducted by United States Postal Inspection Service. Special Assistant United States Attorney Kathy Carnell is prosecuting the case for the United States.

source: U.S. Attorney for the Western District Of Virginia