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The son of the former CFO of Columbus Zoo has pleaded guilty for the role he played in a theft scandal that saw the misappropriation of zoo funds between multiple executives to the tune of US$2.3m
Tom Anstey | Planet Attractions | 31 Jul 2024
Around US$2.3m of zoo funds were illegally misused by the group Credit: Graham S. Jones
Grant Bell, the son of former Columbus Zoo chief financial operator Greg Bell, is the fifth employee of the animal attraction to plead guilty in a case that has uncovered the illegal misuse of US$2.3m of zoo funds.
Bell, who is the zoo’s former purchasing assistant, played his part in a pattern of corrupt activity that cost the attraction millions of dollars.
The charges stem from a 2021 investigation by The Columbus Dispatch, which found that zoo executives had allowed relatives to live in houses owned or controlled by the zoo and used company funds to buy tickets for family members to various events. Subsequent audits initiated by the zoo’s board found questionable business practices and improper spending on executives' personal items, including concert tickets, golf memberships and vehicles.
Of the misappropriated funds, Bell has been accused by prosecutors of using between US$1,000 and US$7,000 of zoo property “outside the scope of its intended purpose”.
After pleading guilty, Bell could be ordered to spend up to a year in prison or pay a US$2,500 fine at his sentencing hearing, which is scheduled for September 9th.
In addition to Grant, father Greg has pleaded guilty to 14 felony counts that include charges of conspiracy, aggravated theft and 11 counts of tampering with records. Greg could face more than 30 years in prison, as well as a fine of up to US$20,000.
The zoo’s former marketing director, Pete Fingerhut, has pleaded guilty to 16 felonies, including one misdemeanour charge. He originally faced 63 counts including bribery, conspiracy, extortion and money laundering. Fingerhut is looking at more than 37 years in prison. He has also agreed to pay restitution to the zoo worth US$675,573.
Tracy Murnane, the zoo's former director of purchasing, has also pleaded guilty to six felonies including grand theft, complicity to commit theft, forgery and telecommunication fraud. He has also pleaded to two misdemeanour charges. Murnane has paid US$90,000 in restitutions, US$60,000 of which has been paid directly to the zoo. He could face more than eight years in prison for his part in the scheme.
Some have described former CEO Thomas Stalf as the ringleader of the theft and fraud. Stalf has pleaded guilty to 12 felony counts of tampering with records and single counts of theft by deception, conspiracy, and telecommunication fraud. He has also agreed to pay restitution totalling US$315,572.65 over and above money paid as part of an earlier settlement in a civil lawsuit.
The former zoo officials will be separately charged later this year.
Animal attractions
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