Fifth former Columbus Zoo employee charged with theft in $2 million fraud scandal

A fifth former Columbus Zoo and Aquarium employee, the son of its former chief financial officer, was charged Friday with theft in connection to an ongoing multimillion-dollar fraud investigation, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost said.

Grant Bell, of Galloway, faces one count of theft, a fifth-degree felony, according to Delaware County Common Pleas Court records. Bell is the son of former CFO Greg Bell and worked as a purchasing assistant at the zoo, the attorney general's office said. In court records, prosecutors accuse Bell of using $1,000 to $7,500 of zoo property outside of the scope of its intended purpose.

Grant Bell is the fifth and final defendant in the criminal case. All but one of the defendants have since pleaded guilty and are scheduled to be sentenced in September.

• Former CEO Tom Stalf faces 36 felony charges and is scheduled to go to trial Aug. 6.
• Greg Bell, former chief financial officer, pleaded guilty Oct. 19 to 14 felony charges, including aggravated theft, conspiracy and tampering with records. His sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 19.
• Pete Fingerhut, former marketing director, pleaded guilty July 2 to 16 felonies and one misdemeanor. He is scheduled to be sentenced Sept. 23.
• Tracy Murnane, former purchasing agent, pleaded guilty July 8 to six felonies and two misdemeanors. He will be sentenced Sept. 23.

In total, prosecutors accuse the defendants of defrauding the zoo of more than $2.29 million, the attorney general's office said.

smeighan@dispatch.com

@ShahidMeighan

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Fifth former Columbus Zoo employee charged with theft in $2 million fraud scandal