COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio Auditor Keith Faber has released the final report into the fraud case involving former Columbus Zoo and Aquarium executives who stole more than $2.3 million for personal benefit. 

What You Need To Know

  • Ohio Auditor Keith Faber released a final report into the fraud case involving former Columbus Zoo and Aquarium staff

  • Five former executives have been convicted for using zoo funds for personal gain

  • The zoo said it has taken steps recently to ensure something like this case never happens again

In the 61-page report, it details how former executives spent the money, including purchasing tickets to concerts and sporting events, as well as using funds for personal vacations. It also describes the schemes the former executives pulled off to conceal their illegal activities. 

One example is how the ownership of five cars sold to the zoo had been concealed, and the profits were pocketed by one of the five employees who ended up being convicted. Another scheme involved purchasing a recreational vehicle that should have been used for zoo purposes, but was instead used by an executive for their family vacation.

Additionally, the report unveils emails sent between the individuals convicted, which shows how they attempted to hide their schemes and receipts for wrongful purchases.

The investigation led to five convictions:

  • Former Chief Executive Officer Thomas Stalf pleaded guilty to 15 felony counts, including aggravated theft, conspiracy, telecommunications fraud and tampering with records. He was sentenced to seven years in prison, fined $10,000 and ordered to pay restitution of $315,572.65.
  • Former Chief Financial Officer Greg Bell pleaded guilty to 14 felony counts, including aggravated theft, conspiracy and tampering with records. He was sentenced to three years in prison, fined $10,000 and ordered to pay restitution of $583,697.44.
  • Former Director of Marketing Peter Fingerhut pleaded guilty to 16 felony counts, including aggravated theft, conspiracy, tampering with records and telecommunications fraud, plus a misdemeanor count of falsification. He was sentenced to five years in prison, fined $10,000 and ordered to pay restitution of $639,297.33.
  • Former Director of Purchasing Tracy Murnane pleaded guilty to six felony counts, including grand theft, complicity in the commission of an offense, forgery, telecommunications fraud and filing incomplete, false and fraudulent returns, plus two misdemeanor certificate of title counts. His sentence included 60 days in jail, a fine of $5,000 and an order to pay restitution of $90,000.
  • Grant Bell, a former purchasing logistics coordinator, pleaded guilty to a felony count of theft and was sentenced to two years of community control and 40 hours of community service, fined $1,000 and ordered to pay restitution of $8,554.61.

The report also gave recommendations for the zoo to increase oversight and controls over financial transactions and operations, which the zoo said it has already taken steps to do so.

“We appreciate the detailed account of what transpired and the management recommendations,” Columbus Zoo President and Chief Executive Officer Tom Schmid and Dan Gusty, chairman of the Zoo board, wrote in response to the special audit. “By almost any measure, we are a stronger institution today. We are better governed, and with new executive leadership in place, we have developed bold plans for a prosperous future for this institution and for wildlife. We welcome the final report from the Auditor of State’s Office and thank you for your diligence in investigating these wrongdoings.”

To read the full report, click here.

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