Former Zoo Marketing Executive Pleads Guilty to Multiple Fraud Charges and Agrees to Restitution

The former marketing director of the Columbus Zoo, Pete Fingerhut, has pleaded guilty to 16 felony counts and one misdemeanor in a fraud case. Fingerhut will pay $675,572.65 in restitution, including back taxes and money to the zoo. The guilty plea was part of a plea agreement ahead of a trial set for July 9. Fingerhut and others were accused of defrauding the zoo of over $2.29 million, with charges ranging from aggravated theft to tampering with records and telecommunications fraud. Sentencing is scheduled for September.

Columbus, OH - In a surprising turn of events, Peter Fingerhut, the former director of marketing for the Columbus Zoo, pleaded guilty to 17 charges in connection to a $2.29 million fraud case on Tuesday [1]. Fingerhut, who initially pleaded not guilty last October, admitted to his guilt in exchange for reduced penalties.

The charges against Fingerhut include theft, tampering, falsification, fraud, and more [1]. The scam, which involved taking concert and World Series tickets, golf memberships, lavish vacations, and cash bribes from Zoo vendors, manipulating Zoo finances, and hiding deals, is said to have defrauded the Zoo of over $2 million [1].

Fingerhut is not alone in this scandal. Former CEO Tom Stalf and former CFO Greg Bell have also been accused of involvement in the fraud [1]. Stalf and Bell are accused of taking similar perks from Zoo vendors and manipulating Zoo finances to hide the deals [1]. Bell pleaded guilty to his charges last year, while Stalf's trial is scheduled to start next month [1].

A fourth Zoo employee, Tracy Murnane, was charged in a separate case in October [2]. Murnane, the former director of purchasing, is accused of selling personal cars to the Zoo using a straw seller, helping Stalf spend $45,000 of Zoo money to buy an RV for his personal use, attending events on rare occasions with tickets paid for by the Zoo, and booking a party bus for his son's wedding with Zoo resources [2].

Fingerhut could face up to 37.5 years in prison when he is sentenced on September 23 [1]. The prosecutors are seeking prison time for Fingerhut but have not asked for a specific length of time [1].

References:
[1] WSYX. (2023, October 24). Columbus Zoo executive expected to admit guilt in 2m financial scandal. Retrieved from https://abc6onyourside.com/news/local/peter-fingerhut-tom-stalf-greg-bell-tracy-murnane-former-columbus-ohio-zoo-executive-expected-admit-guilt-2m-financial-scandal
[2] WTRF. (2023, October 24). Additional defendant charged in Ohio zoo fraud investigation. Retrieved from https://www.wtrf.com/news/additional-defendant-charged-in-ohio-zoo-fraud-investigation/
[3] Delgazette. (2023, October 24). Former zoo CFO pleads guilty. Retrieved from https://www.delgazette.com/2023/10/24/former-zoo-cfo-pleads-guilty/