Woman accused of money laundering at arts council she led 27 years, NC police say
A 76-year-old woman is facing money laundering accusations in connection with more than $20,000 in checks written at the arts council she led for decades, according to investigators in North Carolina.
The Kinston Police Department began investigating “allegations of financial misconduct” in December, after Sandy Landis retired as executive director of the Community Council for the Arts, officials said.
“The investigation showed that while serving as a transitional consultant, Landis issued multiple unauthorized checks to herself from the organization’s accounts,” police said in a July 16 news release.
“Following an extensive financial investigation, detectives determined that the checks totaled approximately $21,037.25. The payments included unsupported consulting fees, vacation compensation, and an IRA contribution. Investigators reviewed bank records, which indicated that several of the checks were deposited into Landis’ personal bank account.”
Landis turned herself in to police on July 16, and was charged with:
- Felony money laundering
- Identity theft
- Forgery
- Two counts of uttering a forged instrument
- Five counts of possession of counterfeit instruments
- Felony possession of stolen goods
- Obtaining property by false pretense
- Larceny of chose in action (theft of financial documents)
At the time of her June 2025 retirement, Landis was described as a “transformative figure” in Kinston’s arts community.
“Landis, who served as executive director of CCA since the late 1990s, has helped shape Kinston’s creative ecosystem during years of both turbulence and renewal,” the Neuse News reported in a 2025 article. “Under her leadership, the council launched youth arts programs, outdoor exhibits, gallery shows, and partnerships that reached across Eastern North Carolina.”
Kinston is about an 80-mile drive southeast from downtown Raleigh.