A New York woman has been sentenced to three to nine years in state prison after prosecutors said she and others falsely represented themselves as being associated with a construction company and redirected more than $1 million in project money into a bank account she controlled.
Kirsten Zubini pleaded guilty to first-degree criminal possession of stolen property, a Class B felony, according to the Saratoga County District Attorney’s Office, which announced her sentence Oct. 5.
The scheme targeted a local institution while it was in the middle of a large-scale construction project. Prosecutors said Zubini worked with affiliates who falsely represented that they were associated with the company performing the construction work.
The institution eventually discovered that its payment had been fraudulently diverted. A rapid response involving the institution, a local bank and law enforcement recovered all but approximately $20,000 of the money.
They Claimed to Be Associated With the Construction Company
Prosecutors said Zubini and her affiliates contacted the institution while construction was underway and falsely presented themselves as being connected to the company performing the work.
The false representation caused payment for construction services to be redirected into a bank account controlled by Zubini, according to the district attorney. More than $1 million belonging to the institution passed through the scheme.
The District Attorney’s Office did not publicly identify the victim institution, describing it only as a local institution. An earlier New York State Police announcement described it as a Saratoga Springs organization that reported the theft in January 2024.
Nearly All of the Money Was Recovered
Once the institution discovered that the payment had been redirected, it immediately began trying to reverse the transaction.
Prosecutors said cooperation among the institution, a local bank and law enforcement resulted in all but approximately $20,000 of the stolen funds being recovered. Zubini was ultimately ordered to pay $20,426 in restitution as part of her sentence.
Saratoga County District Attorney Brett Eby credited the rapid response by the victim, the bank and investigators with preventing most of the more than $1 million from remaining lost.
State Police Arrested Zubini in 2024
New York State Police first publicly announced Zubini’s arrest on June 20, 2024.
Troopers said a representative of a Saratoga Springs organization contacted State Police on Jan. 24, 2024, to report a theft. Investigators determined that funds belonging to the organization had been fraudulently redirected in January into a bank account controlled by Zubini.
Zubini, then identified by State Police as an East Fishkill resident, was arrested on June 18, 2024, with assistance from the Dutchess County Probation Department.
At the time of that arrest, State Police charged her with first-degree grand larceny. She was arraigned in Malta Town Court and released on her own recognizance.
The case ultimately resulted in a different conviction offense: first-degree criminal possession of stolen property.
The Investigation Continued With State Police and the FBI
After Zubini’s arrest, the Saratoga County District Attorney’s Office said investigators continued examining the financial scheme and the conduct of people affiliated with her.
The investigation involved the New York State Police and the FBI Financial Crimes Task Force. Prosecutors said their work focused on identifying the full scope of the scheme and Zubini’s conduct along with that of her affiliates.
Zubini Was Sentenced to 3 to 9 Years in State Prison
A Saratoga County Clerk criminal index record identifies Kirsten E. Zubini as the defendant in case SCI-70577-26/001. The record is dated July 16, 2026, and identifies the People of the State of New York as the plaintiff.
Zubini pleaded guilty to first-degree criminal possession of stolen property before receiving an indeterminate prison sentence of three to nine years.
Under New York Penal Law Section 165.54, first-degree criminal possession of stolen property applies when a person knowingly possesses stolen property with the required intent and the value exceeds $1 million. The offense is a Class B felony.
As part of the sentence, Zubini was ordered to pay $20,426 in restitution. Prosecutors said the court also imposed a DNA order, a waiver of appeal and applicable fines and surcharges.
New York law generally permits an indeterminate sentence for a Class B felony with a maximum term of up to 25 years. Zubini’s actual sentence in this case was three to nine years.
The District Attorney’s Office credited New York State Police, the FBI Albany Field Office and Senior Assistant District Attorney Andreanna Diliberto for their work on the investigation and prosecution.