Former Executive Director of Community Council for the Arts Faces Fraud Charges in Kinston

The former executive director of the Community Council for the Arts in Kinston has been charged with financial misconduct following an investigation into alleged irregularities. Sandy Landis, 76, was arrested and faces multiple charges including fraud, counterfeiting, and money laundering after an investigation initiated in December 2025.

According to the Kinston Police Department, detectives began examining allegations of financial impropriety within the non-profit organization. The investigation revealed that Landis, who had transitioned to a consultant role after leaving the executive position, issued several unauthorized checks in her own name from the organization’s accounts.

The Community Council for the Arts, a non-profit committed to promoting cultural and artistic activities in the Kinston region and eastern North Carolina, is now at the center of this legal matter. The financial probe uncovered that the unauthorized payments totaled approximately $21,037.25. These funds reportedly included consultancy fees without proper documentation, holiday compensation, and a contribution to a retirement IRA account.

Investigators reviewed bank records and found that some of these checks were deposited into Landis’ personal account. Following the conclusion of the investigation, arrest warrants were obtained on July 15, 2026. Landis voluntarily appeared before the Pitt County Magistrate’s Office on July 16, 2026, and was released on unsecured bail as the judicial process continues.

Authorities have not disclosed whether the board of directors identified the irregularities internally or if they were discovered through an external audit. It remains unclear whether the organization has recovered any of the misappropriated funds or what specific impact this case has had on its cultural programs. The situation underscores the importance of transparency and accountability in the management of non-profit resources, reflecting the biblical call to act with integrity and honesty, as seen in Micah 6:8.

Source: Read the original report (translated from Spanish)