Former Bookkeeper Sentenced for Embezzling Funds

An Ulster County woman was sentenced to prison for embezzling over $200,000 from a business she worked for.

45-year-old Tonya Valk, of Saugerties, was convicted on a 3rd-degree grand larceny charge. According to the Ulster County District Attorney’s Office, Valk embezzled over $200,000 from an Ulster County business she worked for.

Valk worked as a bookkeeper and was in charge of the businesses financial matters, including payroll. Her criminal activity included forging checks and padding her salary with unauthorized raises. She hid her embezzlement for years by generating false bank statements that she submitted to the company’s partners.

On Thursday in Ulster County Court Valk was sentenced to 2 1/3 to 7 years in state prison and ordered to pay restitution totaling $227,904.00.