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A state auditor, Tobias Otieno, is facing serious legal trouble after being accused of stealing over $400,000 from the town of Wallkill during an audit conducted between 2022 and 2024. The Orange County District Attorney's Office announced the charges, which include second-degree grand larceny as a public corruption crime, a felony. Otieno, 41, pleaded not guilty during his arraignment in New Windsor Town Court and is scheduled to appear in Wallkill Town Court on July 30.
According to the felony complaint, Otieno allegedly used his access to Wallkill’s financial accounts to transfer approximately $405,843.25 to his personal business accounts, including Toncye Consulting and Tozaq Accounting Services. The investigation, conducted by the Orange County sheriff’s office and the district attorney’s office, found no evidence of misconduct by town officials or employees. The town's bank reimbursed the stolen funds after officials promptly reported the fraud.
State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli expressed his outrage at Otieno's alleged actions, stating, "Once we learned of his actions, we immediately partnered with law enforcement to fully investigate this matter." DiNapoli also confirmed that Otieno was suspended and later terminated from his position.
If convicted, Otieno could face a prison sentence ranging from eight years and four months to 25 years. The case highlights the importance of ongoing communication and monitoring during audits to safeguard public funds, as emphasized by Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler.