Tobias Otieno, a former auditor with the Office of the New York State Comptroller, was arraigned on charges of second degree grand larceny as a public corruption crime. Between June 2022 and September 2024, Otieno was assigned to audit the town of Wallkill’s finances. During this time, officials say Otieno used his access to the town’s bank accounts and financial documents to transfer $405,843.25 to business accounts he personally owned. The theft was uncovered by the Orange County White Collar Crimes Taskforce, a division of the district attorney’s office, and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, with help from forensic auditors with the state comptroller’s office, Otieno’s employer. Otieno, who was terminated from his position, pleaded not guilty.
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