COLUMBUS – Three former executives of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium were indicted Monday for their roles in a scheme to defraud the zoo of more than $2 million.
A Delaware County grand jury on Monday returned an indictment accusing former CEO Tom Stalf, former Marketing Director Pete Fingerhut and former chief financial officer Greg Bell of defrauding the zoo, which is a partially tax-supported nonprofit organization, out of $2.29 million, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced.
“In simple terms, the bank hired the robbers to work security,” Yost said.
The indictment claims that, between 2011 and 2021, the three manipulated credit-card and check authorization forms to steer money to their to their personal accounts and used the money for tickets to concerts and sporting events, golf memberships, trips, meals, alcohol, motor vehicles and other improper benefits.
An investigation conducted by Yost’s Charitable Law and Antitrust sections, along with the Ohio Auditor’s Office, found that the three also bartered, bribed and extorted zoo vendors for goods and services.
“I’m confident that when the allegations are heard in the court of law, the jury will agree that these former executives of the Columbus Zoo extorted, conspired, bribed and stole over $2 million in public funds for their own benefits,” Yost said.
The charges contained in the indictment include theft, bribery, extortion, money laundering and engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity.
“Placing a high priority on a renewed commitment to the Zoo’s mission and to rebuilding public trust, the Board of Directors and President and CEO Tom Schmid have made significant changes to policies, procedures and oversight at multiple levels. The Columbus Zoo is committed to transparency and accountability,” zoo officials said in a statement released Monday.
Stalf and Bell resigned from the zoo in March 2021 after an internal investigation focusing on their personal use of zoo assets. Fingerhut had been dismissed earlier by the zoo as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The zoo receives about $19 million in taxes annually from a levy paid by Franklin County residents. After the wrongdoing was exposed, the city and the Franklin County Board of Commissioners created a levy oversight committee and forged a new agreement with the zoo that changed the zoo’s governing structure.
“The Franklin County Commissioners believe that Central Ohio residents deserve to have high-quality, transparent leadership at the helm of the Columbus Zoo. The commissioners have worked diligently with the new leadership of the zoo, the zoo board, and other local government partners to ensure that a modern governance structure is in place, that oversight is increased, and that public levy funds are protected,” the Board of Commissioners said in a statement.