COLUMBUS – A forensic accounting analysis reveals former executives at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium misused more than $631,000 of zoo resources.
The zoo’s Board of Directors announced the conclusion of the analysis ahead of a public release Friday.
It details the zoo’s barter accounts, credit card purchases, and personal gains and benefits obtained without authorization by former CEO Tom Stalf and others to the tune of at least $631,651.
“We trusted these individuals with the privilege to lead this singularly outstanding organization, and they shattered that trust,” Board chair Keith Shumate said.
According to the report, Stalf, former CFO Greg Bell, former VP of Marketing Pete Fingerhut and former Director of Purchasing Tracy Murnane “used their leadership positions to blatantly ignore established policies and use a system among themselves to utilize Zoo resources for their personal advantage.”
Reportedly the four used zoo resources to obtain concert and sports tickets, gold memberships and other perks for themselves, friends and family members.
The analysis concluded that public tax levy funds were not misused.
Zoo officials say they are reviewing “all options for recovering the losses” and are turning the report over to authorities, including the Ohio Attorney General, Auditor, Ohio Ethics Commission, the Franklin County Commissioners, Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther and Columbus City Council.
Plante Moran conducted the forensic analysis, which was overseen by the legal firm of Porter Wright Morris and Arthur.
According to the report, Stalf was responsible for $423,049 in losses, Bell is responsible for $138,889; Fingerhut is responsible for $56,981 and Murnane is responsible for $12,732
In addition, the report revealed that Bell provided pre-payments and advances to IronRoad, the former human relations vendor, totaling $725,000.
According to the report, IronRoad owes the Zoo a principal balance of approximately $375,000, plus interest.
Zoo leaders are vowing to strengthen internal policies that were already in place and create additional safeguards.
“We are making changes and improvements to ensure something like this can never happen again. We are committed to restoring the excellent reputation of our Zoo,” Shumate said.