COLUMBUS, Ohio — Three former Columbus Zoo and Aquarium executives engaged in a development of corrupt process that price the ability greater than $2.2 million, consistent with an indictment.
Tom Stalf, who was once the zoo’s president and leader government officer; ex-Chief Financial Officer Gregory Bell and Peter Fingerhut, its former advertising and marketing director “extorted, conspired, bribed and stole” whilst colluding with every different for over 10 years, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost mentioned in saying the 90-count indictment on Monday.
The fees stem from a 2021 investigation by way of The Columbus Dispatch, which discovered the executives allowed family to reside in homes owned or managed by way of the zoo and used corporate price range to shop for tickets for members of the family to more than a few occasions. Subsequent audits initiated by way of the zoo’s board discovered questionable industry practices and unsuitable spending on executives’ private pieces together with live performance tickets, golfing memberships and cars.
The indictment alleges that Bell knew that invoices or causes for the invoices had been unsuitable, but he authorized them. It additionally states that at one level, Bell modified his thoughts and “attempted to follow the law,” however his task was once allegedly threatened by way of Stalf.
Yost mentioned if any of the trio of indicted executives had achieved the best factor, the scheme to violate the general public believe would by no means have took place.
“This required three people who should have been trustworthy to all work together,” Yost mentioned.
The zoo introduced in March 2022 that it had reached a agreement with Stalf associated with the unsuitable spending to pay again $400,000, which an August 2021 forensic audit mentioned he gained inappropriately. At the time, Stalf’s legal professional mentioned his consumer agreed to pay again the cash so he may transfer ahead along with his lifestyles, however then mentioned the zoo was once prior to now acutely aware of Stalf’s movements and alleged that officers scapegoated his consumer.
The zoo prior to now additionally reached a $132,000 agreement with Bell and made a maintain any other government to pay off $11,000. That person was once now not amongst the ones indicted.
Bell’s legal professional, Sam Shamansky, instructed the newspaper his consumer has “accepted responsibility for his role in these offenses from Day 1. He understands the nature of the indictment and, for all intents and purposes, has already made complete restitution.”
Fingerhut’s legal professional didn’t instantly reply to a message from The Associated Press Tuesday.
Concerns about monetary mismanagement performed a job in the zoo dropping its accreditation in 2021, however that was once reinstated by way of the Association of Zoos And Aquariums in March.
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