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The former chief financial operator of Columbus Zoo has been sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty for his role in a scheme that saw the illegal misuse of US$2.3m of zoo funds
Tom Anstey | Planet Attractions | 22 Aug 2024
Bell was a part of Columbus Zoo for nearly 30 years Credit: Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
The former chief financial operator of Columbus Zoo has been sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty for his role in a scheme that saw the illegal misuse of US$2.3m of zoo funds.
The charges stemmed 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.
In October last year, Bell pleaded guilty to 14 felony counts that include charges of conspiracy, aggravated theft and 11 counts of tampering with records.
He faced a potential prison sentence of more than 30 years in prison, as well as a fine of up to US$20,000. Judge David Gormley decided that the sentences would run concurrently, meaning that Bell faces prison for the most serious of the charges - a second-degree felony.
In addition to his sentence, Bell will pay restitution of US$583,697, a US$10,000 fine and court costs. He will be eligible for judicial release in just six months.
“The zoo was a major part of my life for over 29 years,” said Bell, speaking during sentencing. “The zoo put a great deal of trust in me. And I failed them.”
Five employees of the Columbus Zoo have been charged in the case, with Bell the first to plead guilty and to cooperate with prosecutors in providing evidence against those executives involved in the scandal.
Others involved in the scheme include Grant Bell, the son of Greg Bell. Of the misappropriated funds, Grant 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, Grant 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.
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 remaining zoo officials named in the scandal will be separately charged later this year.
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