San Mateo County worker enters plea in $800K embezzlement scheme

(KRON) — A San Mateo County employee accused of embezzling just under $800,000 over a span of eight years pleaded not guilty to all charges on Thursday, according to the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office.

Kian Hanohano Atkinson, 47, of Foster City, is charged with three counts of embezzlement by a public officer and three counts of a public officer crime, all of which carry an enhancement of aggravated white collar crime. Additional charges include nine counts of identity theft, carrying a loaded firearm in a vehicle and carrying a concealed loaded weapon.

Atkinson was hired in 2016 to the county’s Environmental Health Services division and was in charge of issuing drilling and well permits. According to prosecutors, in January 2017, he began diverting well permit applications to his personal work email and would issue false permits. The payments to the county would allegedly go to his own Square financial account.

The embezzlement scheme continued for more than eight years into March 2025, according to prosecutors. At that time, Atkinson was transferred to another assignment and the fraud was uncovered, the DA’s office said.

“The total amount embezzled over the eight year period was just under $800,000,” prosecutors wrote.

After Atkinson was placed on leave from his job, the DA’s office said he used information from a department credit card to charge an additional $20,000 in personal expenses.

During a search of Atkinson’s Foster City home and vehicle, inspectors found a loaded and concealed handgun. He claimed to have found it on the side of the road, the DA’s office said.

Atkinson remains in jail as of Friday morning with bail set at $500,000. A preliminary hearing in the case is set for Sept. 22.