Former Hiltons postmaster indicted
ABINGDON — The former postmaster of the Hiltons Post Office was indicted by a federal grand jury last week for allegedly stealing mail and embezzling thousands of dollars over the course of a year.
Cynthia K. Landore, 56, Bristol, Va., was indicted in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia on multiple felony counts Nov. 1 — including misappropriation of postal funds over $100, theft of government property, delay or destruction of mail delivery, and theft of mail by an officer or employee.
Federal prosecutors allege Landore — who served as the Hiltons postmaster since 1993 — embezzled no less than $30,000 while serving in her role between June 2010 and July 2011.
According to court documents, Landore allegedly “converted for her own use” money and property that came into her hands while carrying out her job duties at the Hiltons Post Office.
Landore also allegedly stole and destroyed numerous items of mail.
The three-page indictment lays out allegations that Landore acquired the $30,000 by “unlawfully using funds from the sale of money orders for her personal use” and by knowingly stealing “property of the United States or any department or agency there of.”
The federal indictment continues by alleging Landore “unlawfully secreted, destroyed, delayed and opened any letter, postal card, package, bag or mail” that came into her possession instead of mailing them as originally intended.
It further states that Landore embezzled numerous pieces of mail and packages that were entrusted to her, and stole or removed articles contained in them.
Calls and e-mails Thursday to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Virginia for further comment were not immediately returned.
U.S. Postal Service Bristol Postal Operations Manager Charles Griffith declined to comment on the allegations surrounding Landore or a possible investigation, saying he was not at liberty to discuss the case.
Local post office officials did, however, confirm an investigation into Landore’s alleged activities had taken place, although no further details were given.
Landore served as postmaster of the Hiltons Post Office from May 1993 until earlier this year.
USPS spokeswoman Cathy Yarosky confirmed that Landore was no longer serving as the postmaster for the Hiltons branch.
Although she didn’t have details on the exact date Landore left the position, Yarosky said Officer-in-Charge Barry Poss had been responsible for operations at the Hiltons location for “several months.”
Landore is scheduled to appear for arraignment before Magistrate Judge Pamela Meade Sargent at 10 a.m. on Nov. 30 in U.S. District Court in Abingdon.
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