Former Columbus Zoo CEO sentenced to prison for $2.29 million fraud

Oct. 14 – Tom Stalf, former CEO of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, is convicted for his role in a scheme to defraud the zoo of $2.29 million for vacations, sporting events and other personal expenses.

Tom Stalf was sentenced to seven years in prison by Delaware County Common Pleas Judge David Gormley, a few months after Stalf pleaded guilty in a plea agreement to one count each of aggravated theft, conspiracy and telecommunications fraud, as well as a dozen counts of tampering. with data, all crimes.

As part of the agreement, he also agreed to pay $315,572.65 in restitution to the zoo, the state and the IRS, in addition to the $400,000 already repaid on his behalf in 2021, the attorney’s office said General of Ohio.

In a news release, the attorney general’s office said Stalf “abused his position to enrich himself, his family and his friends by plotting to defraud the zoo through a pattern of corrupt activity and lying through financial forms to cover up the misconduct.”

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost said, “The zoo has long been a crown jewel of Central Ohio, but this pretender has stolen the jewels straight from that crown.”

The money was spent on suites and tickets to concerts and sporting events, golf memberships, travel to other states and abroad and the purchase of motor vehicles, meals and beverages, the news release said.

Stalf was charged along with four other zoo officials, including former zoo chief financial officer Greg Bell, his son and former zoo purchasing assistant Grant Bell, former zoo purchasing agent Tracy Murnane and former zoo marketing director Pete Fingerhut.

Everyone except Fingerhut was convicted.

Greg Bell was sentenced to three years in prison and ordered to pay $583,697.44 in restitution, the attorney general’s office said.

Grant Bell was sentenced to two years’ probation and ordered to pay $8,554.61 in restitution.

Tracy Murnane was sentenced to 60 days in jail, followed by three years of probation, and paid $101,000 in restitution.

Fingerhut pleaded guilty on July 2 to one count of aggravated robbery and conspiracy, 11 counts of tampering with documents, three counts of telecommunications fraud and one count of forgery. As part of the settlement, he will pay more than $675,000 in restitution to the zoo, the state of Ohio and the IRS. The attorney general’s office said he will be sentenced on Oct. 28.