DELAWARE COUNTY, Ohio — Two former Columbus Zoo and Aquarium executives accused of misusing funds and resources appeared in court on Wednesday.
Former CEO Tom Stalf and former director of marketing Pete Fingerhut appeared in Delaware County Court of Common Pleas after they were indicted last month.
The former executives pleaded not guilty to their respective charges during their arraignment. They were not given a bond.
Stalf was indicted on 36 felony charges:
- 1 count Engaging in a Pattern of Corrupt Activity
- 2 counts of Aggravated Theft
- 2 counts Bribery
- 1 count Conspiracy
- 6 counts of Money Laundering
- 22 counts of Tampering with Records
- 2 counts of Telecommunications Fraud
Fingerhut was indicted on 62 felony charges and one misdemeanor charge:
- 1 count Engaging in a Pattern of Corrupt Activity
- 2 counts of Aggravated Theft
- 2 counts Bribery
- 1 count Conspiracy
- 2 counts Extortion
- 7 counts of Money Laundering
- 39 counts of Tampering with Records
- 8 counts of Telecommunications Fraud
- 1 count Falsification
Former Chief Financial Officer Greg Bell was also charged in connection with the investigation. Bell pleaded guilty last week to 12 counts of tampering with evidence and one count each of aggravated theft and conspiracy.
According to the indictment, the former executives manipulated credit card and check authorization forms for more than a decade, using the nonprofit’s public funds for personal use.
One instance referenced by Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost alleged that zoo tickets were exchanged for tickets to Game 6 of the 2016 World Series. On another occasion, Fingerhut is accused of threatening harm to a vendor’s business opportunities with the zoo unless he was paid large sums of cash.
The indictments come after the former employees were accused of losing more than $630,000 and misusing zoo resources in 2021. The investigation revealed that the crimes allegedly took place between 2011 and 2021 and resulted in the theft of approximately $2.29 million.
Stalf and Bell allegedly let family members live in houses controlled by the zoo and got them tickets for entertainment events.
According to a report, Stalf, Bell, Fingerhut and former Director of Purchasing Tracy Murnane used their positions "to blatantly ignore established policies and use a system among themselves to utilize Zoo resources for their personal advantage." Murnane was not charged.
Stalf and Bell voluntarily resigned from their positions in 2021. Tom Schmid filled the role formerly held by Stalf in October 2021.
The zoo’s board of directors launched an internal investigation that year, working with a law firm to find out the extent of the accusations.
- Stalf is responsible for $423,049.00 in losses, plus interest
- Bell is responsible for $138,889.00 in losses, plus interest
- Fingerhut is responsible for $56,981.00 in losses, plus interest
- Murnane is responsible for $12,732.00 in losses, plus interest
Bell and Murmane agreed to pay back a total of $143,000, according to the zoo. Zoo officials confirmed in March 2022 that the Board of Directors approved a $400,000 settlement with Stalf.