COLUMBUS, Ohio —  Attorney General Dave Yost said the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium's former chief executive officer was sentenced to 7 years in prison for his role in defrauding the zoo of at least $2.3 million.

Tom Stalf previously pleaded guilty in July to 15 felonies including: aggravated theft, conspiracy, telecommunications fraud and tampering with records.

What You Need To Know

  • Former CEO Tom Stalf previously pleaded guilty in July to 15 felonies

  • Alongside Stalf, former Marketing Director Pete Fingerhut and former Chief Financial Officer Greg Bell, were named in a Sept. 18, 2023, indictment

  • Prosecutors suggested in a sentencing memorandum filed with the court that Stalf and co-conspirators failed in their fiduciary obligations to both the zoo and taxpayers

  • The rest of the conspirators have been sentenced, except for Fingerhut, who pleaded guilty on July 2 and will be sentenced on Oct. 28

“The zoo has long been a crown jewel of Central Ohio, but this pretender stole the jewels right out of that crown,” Yost said in a release. “Cages can hold more than zoo animals.”

Alongside Stalf, former Marketing Director Pete Fingerhut and former Chief Financial Officer Greg Bell, were named in a Sept. 18, 2023, indictment where they were accused of manipulating credit-card and check-authorization forms for more than 10 years and using the nonprofit public funds for personal use. Since the indictment, two more former employees were also charged.

According to Yost, Stalf used his position to enrich himself, his family and friends through a scheme to defraud the zoo through corrupt activity and then lying on financial forms to cover it up.

Stolen funds were spent on "lavish times unrelated to the zoo" including suites and tickets to concerts and sporting events; golf memberships; trips to different states and countries; meals, beverages, alcohol and motor vehicles.

Prosecutors suggested in a sentencing memorandum filed with the court that Stalf and co-conspirators failed in their fiduciary obligations to both the zoo and taxpayers.

“Leaders of charities and nonprofits in Ohio undertake the responsibility to support the charitable missions of the organizations they lead and set an example to the employees they oversee to be stewards of the organization and its assets,” the memo said.

Stalf will be required to pay $315,572.65 in criminal restitution to the zoo and the Columbus Zoo, state of Ohio and Internal Revenue Service. This is on top of $400,000 in restitution paid already on his behalf.

The rest of the conspirators have been sentenced, except for Fingerhut, who pleaded guilty on July 2 and will be sentenced on Oct. 28, at this point including:

  • Greg Bell: Sentenced to three years in prison and ordered to pay criminal restitution of $583,697.44
  • Tracy Murnane, former purchasing agent: Sentenced to 60 days in jail and three years of probation. Murnane paid $101,000 in civil and criminal restitution
  • Grant Bell, former purchasing assistant and son of Greg Bell: Sentenced to two years of probation and ordered to pay $8,554.61 in criminal restitution

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