Ex-zoo CEO sentenced to 7 years in prison

(The Center Square) – A Delaware County judge sentenced the former CEO of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium to seven years in Ohio prison Monday for his role in more than $2 million fraud scheme.

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

Stalf was also ordered to pay $315,572 in restitution in addition to civil restitution he’s already paid and fined $10,000.

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

Yost said Stalf took advantage of his position to enrich himself, his family and friends by lying on financial forms to cover the scheme.

Stalf, former Marketing Director Pete Fingerhut, and ex-Chief Financial Officer Greg Bell were all indicted on Sept. 18, 2023, on charges of manipulating credit card and check-authorization forms for more than a decade and using the nonprofit’s public funds for personal use.

Two other zoo employees were also indicted.

The money was spent on things like suites and tickets to concerts and sporting events, golf memberships, trips to multiple states and foreign countries, meals, beverages, alcohol and motor vehicles.

State Auditor Keith Faber’s Special Investigation Unit began investigating in April 2021 after a Columbus Dispatch story made some of the issues public. The probe found the scheme covered a 10-year period from 2011-21.

In the sentencing memorandum to the court, prosecutors wrote that Stalf “was a toxic leader” who “allowed the 'Animal House' atmosphere to infect the Columbus Zoo and exist for nearly a decade.”

“Stalf used his leadership position to defraud the Zoo and personally enrich himself, his family, and the other defendants in this case,” Faber said. “He helped to create and cultivate a culture of corruption that is inexcusable.”

Fingerhut, who has pleaded guilty to one felony count of aggravated theft, 11 felony counts of tampering with records, three felony counts of telecommunications fraud, one felony count of conspiracy and a misdemeanor count of falsification, is scheduled to be sentenced Oct. 28.

The nonprofit Columbus Zoo receives more than $19 million annually from a Franklin County tax levy.