GOSHEN – The former state auditor who scrutinized the Town of Wallkill’s books, pled guilty in Orange County Court on Tuesday of grand larceny as a felony public corruption crime for stealing $405,843 from the town as he was going through their books with a fine-tooth comb.
Tobias Otieno, 41, of Hyde Park faces four to 12 years in state prison when sentenced in June.
Otieno admitted that between June 23, 2022 and September 1, 2024, he was employed as an auditor for the state comptroller’s office assigned to audit the Town of Wallkill.
During his review, he transferred funds from the town bank accounts to his personal business accounts.
Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler said the investigation revealed no misconduct by any officials or employees of the town. Wallkill officials immediately reported the fraud to the town’s financial institution, and the bank reimbursed the town.
The town police department was alerted to the allegations, alerted other law enforcement agencies, but to avoid any appearance of impropriety, did not get involved in the investigation.
Otieno was immediately suspended from the comptroller’s office and was later terminated.
“The uses of a government position to steal public monies is a most serious offense that warrants sever punishment,” said Hoovler.
This case precipitated the formation of the Orange County Joint White Collar Crimes Task force by Hoovler and Sheriff Paul Arteta in March 2023.
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