COLUMBUS – Ohio’s top law enforcement official is investigating the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium after a newspaper report concerning misuse of assets by two top executives who later resigned.
Republican Attorney General Dave Yost’s review followed a Columbus Dispatch investigation that uncovered that the then-president and CEO Tom Stalf and then-CFO Greg Bell allowed relatives to live in houses owned or controlled by the non-profit zoo and sought tickets for family members to zoo entertainment events.
“Charity may begin at home for an individual, but it’s trouble when an executive for a charitable organization uses company resources for friends and family,” Yost said.
The zoo is a nonprofit organization that receives donations and tax money from Franklin County residents.
Stalf and Bell resigned Monday after an internal investigation.
The zoo’s board chair said it welcomes Yost’s involvement.
Columbus’ is the second-largest animal population among U.S. zoos.
“The Board of Commissioners supports conducting a forensic audit of all zoo funds, including the more than $19 million in levy funds the zoo receives annually from Franklin County taxpayers,” the Franklin County commissioners wrote in a statement, calling on the zoo’s board of directors to enhance financial safeguards, including segregating tax dollars from other zoo funds. The president of the Franklin County Board of Commissioners an ex officio member of the zoo board.