Kenyan Auditor Pleads Guilty to $405,000 Embezzlement in New York

Tobias Otieno, a 41-year-old Kenyan national, has pleaded guilty to embezzling more than $405,000 from the Town of Wallkill in Orange County, New York.

Otieno, who worked as an auditor for the New York State Office of the State Comptroller, admitted to transferring municipal funds into his own business accounts between June 2022 and September 2024. The offence, second-degree grand larceny, is a felony under New York law and carries a potential prison sentence of four to twelve years. Sentencing is scheduled for 1 June.

The theft was uncovered in 2025 when officials noticed irregular transactions. A search of Otieno's Hyde Park home in July of that year led to his arrest. 

Investigators, including forensic auditors from the Comptroller's office, later confirmed that no other town employees were involved, and Wallkill's financial institution reimbursed the municipality for the lost funds. Otieno, who was suspended and dismissed from his position after his arrest, had been tasked with reviewing Wallkill’s finances but exploited his access to divert funds instead. 

A review of his audits in other municipalities found no evidence of similar misconduct. District Attorney David M. Hoovler described the crime as a serious breach of public trust, while the Comptroller's office condemned the misuse of authority for personal gain.