ORANGE COUNTY, N.Y.—A man sent by the New York state comptroller to audit the Town of Wallkill’s finances allegedly stole $405,000 from the town, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office announced on July 10.
Tobias Otieno, 41, of Hyde Park in Dutchess County, allegedly stole the money while auditing the town’s finances between mid-2022 and late 2024. Otieno was charged with grand larceny in the second degree as a public corruption crime.
Because of bail reform laws, Otieno has been released without bail and is scheduled to appear in Wallkill Town Court.
Otieno allegedly stole Wallkill Town Supervisor George Serrano’s signature and other sensitive financial information during the auditing process, said authorities. He used these to transfer money to his personal businesses from Town of Wallkill bank accounts….