A former state Comptroller Office employee who stole $405,843 from the town of Wallkill was sentenced to four to 12 years in prison, Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler said.
Tobias Otieno, 42, an auditor from Hyde Park, pleaded guilty to second-degree grand larceny, as a public corruption crime in February, when he admitted to stealing the money from the town while working for the comptroller and assigned to audit the town’s finances between 2022-2024. Otieno transferred the money from the town’s bank accounts to his own personal business accounts.
The investigation revealed no misconduct by officials or town employees, Hoovler said. Law enforcement said they were able to get back all of the money Otieno stole. The Comptroller’s Office terminated his employment.
“This defendant’s admitted conduct was a self-serving crime that subverted the trust placed in him by way of his employment,” Hoovler said. “But for the dedicated efforts of the skilled investigators from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office and from my office, who worked closely with investigative staff from the Office of the State Comptroller, this defendant’s crimes might not have been uncovered.”
State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli said, “This sentence ensures that Tobias Otieno will pay for his crimes and his betrayal of the responsibilities entrusted to him.”