by J.D. Davidson
A fourth former executive with the Columbus Zoo pleaded guilty to 15 felony counts connected to a scandal that uncovered funds used for vacations, vehicles, concerts, sporting events and other things over a decade.
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced Tuesday that ex-CEO Tom Stalf pleaded guilty to 15 felonies, including aggravated theft, conspiracy, telecommunications fraud and tampering with records.
Stalf agreed to pay more than $315,000 in restitution to the zoo, state and IRS. Yost said the money was in addition to the $400,000 in restitution made on his behalf in 2021.
Stalf was scheduled for trial Aug. 6. He will be sentenced Oct. 14.
Tracy Murnane, former director of purchasing, pleaded guilty earlier this month to felony counts of grand theft, complicity in the commission of theft of a motor vehicle, forgery, telecommunications fraud and filing incomplete, false and fraudulent returns.
Former Chief Financial Officer Greg Bell pleaded guilty in October 2023 to 12 counts of tampering with records, one count of conspiracy to engage in a pattern of corrupt activity, and one count of aggravated theft, all felonies. He will be sentenced at a later date.
Pete Fingerhut, formerly director of marketing, also pleaded guilty earlier this month to one felony count of aggravated theft, 11 felony counts of tampering with records, three felony counts of telecommunications fraud, one felony count of conspiracy and one misdemeanor count of falsification.
All will be sentenced at a later date.
Grant Bell, a former purchasing assistant, was charged earlier this month with one felony count of theft.
Yost said the defendants defrauded the zoo of more than $2.29 million from 2011 to 2021.
The nonprofit Columbus Zoo receives more than $19 million annually from a Franklin County tax levy.
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An Ohio native, J.D. Davidson is a veteran journalist at The Center Square, with more than 30 years of experience in newspapers in Ohio, Georgia, Alabama and Texas. He has served as a reporter, editor, managing editor and publisher.
Photo “Tom Stalf” by Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. Background Photo “Columbus Zoo and Aquarium” by Columbus Zoo and Aquarium.
If you want to steal money, establish a non profit. They run undoubtedly the most lucrative fraud schemes funded by taxpayers, twice. Paying for the public’s entertainment is not a function of government. This is more common than most people realize.