Watches, limousines and luxury suites among Columbus zoo executives spending spree

For those who haven't read the entire 100-page indictment against three former Columbus Zoo and Aquarium officials, here is a summary of what was allegedly misspent by Thomas E. Stalf, former zoo CEO; Peter A. Fingerhut, former marketing director and Gregory A. Bell, former chief financial officer:

More than $1 million at Nationwide Arena, Schottenstein Center

Mostly for Columbus Blue Jacket hockey games, including on Oct. 3, 2014 — a $45,000 tab — and on Aug. 2, 2013, $10,000. Each event involved larger group outings. Many of the games were in club suites that would have provided food and beverages.

The games were paid using American Express, Chase and Huntington bank cards.

There were dozens of events at the Schottenstein Center, for basketball, concerts and more. On Sept. 1, 2017, a $27,000 payment was made to the Ohio State University Foundation, the fundraising arm of the university. It is unclear what this was for and what, if anything, was received in return.

A Dispatch investigation in 2021 uncovered the problems which focused on two homes on zoo property, remodeled using more than $80,000 in zoo funds, and then rented out to relatives of Stalf and Bell for less than market value.

Read More: Columbus Zoo reviewing use of zoo-owned houses for family of executives

But the attorney general's probe dug even deeper, revealing a complex web or fraud, deceit and coverup.

The barter system

The indictment describes former zoo leadership as a "criminal enterprise," with theft occurring in "a myriad of ways," one of which involved the indicted trio of executives and an unnamed "John Doe 1" trading zoo tickets or memberships for items of value.

The barter system was "for personal gain and not for legitimate zoo-related activities," the indictment states.

Examples include:

• Four tickets to Les Misérables in 2013 valued at $1,166.

• 72 Columbus Crew tickets in 2016 valued at $4,579.

• Two tickets to the 2016 World Series valued at $2,968.

• Four tickets to Rock on the Range at Mapfre Stadium in 2017, valued at $4,240.

• Four tickets to Jay-Z concert in 2018 valued at $852.

• Three tickets to Hamilton in 2019, valued at $3,195.

Subscriptions, junkets and jewelry

Ranging from iTunes subscriptions to evenings at the Ohio Theater, there was also private catering and a bill for more than $1,000 for six days in Disney World for Stalf and his family; trips to Naples, Fla., golf outings at Bent Tree, Glenross, and the Golf Club of Dublin among others, each of which was for personal, not business, use, according to the indictment.

One of the more offbeat purchases was in 2015 to Omaha Mancaves, for $2,310. The online site offers "hundreds of products to help make (a home entertainment room) look exactly as you always wished it could at an affordable price." That same year, Stalf purchased two hybrid bicycles for $1,049.

There were three watches ($1,974), limousine service (more than $2,000) and motorized scooters (more than $4,000), according to the indictment.

All of the activity apparently required therapy. In 2015, 10 gift certificates for reflexology were purchased at Footprints to Wellness. The cost: $795.

Taxpayer money or something else?

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost has repeatedly said that county taxpayers will be made whole.

A spokesman for Franklin County, which has an ongoing tax levy for zoo operations, said that no tax levy dollars were ever misspent, citing a 2021 forensic audit by Plante Moran.

The inconsistency may be related to the AG's office uncovering more theft and misuse of funds since the 2021 audit. Neither the attorney general's office nor county elected or budget officials would discuss the matter.

A new board and words of caution

The zoo has consolidated two separate boards into a single 19-member board whose seats are in the process of being filled, a process that Franklin County officials demanded.

In addition to zoo-appointed board members, the county and city of Columbus will each appoint four members.

Experts say the saga and damage to the zoo's national reputation should be a warning to others who may bend or break financial rules of conduct.

"It's disappointing that the folks running the organization were not focused on maintaining the integrity of the zoo. Ultimately, it's the responsibility of the people who have the authority to spend, to spend the money properly," said Paul Nick, executive director of the Ohio Ethics Commission, which assisted the attorney general's office on this case.

Nonprofit officials are considered public servants, not public officials, meaning they're subject to theft charges, not theft in office. But terminology aside, wrongdoing applies to everyone, Nick said.

"When you are taking resources that belong to the company and falsifying records .... it's just as illegal in the private and public sectors."

Tom Schmid, current zoo CEO, said the scandal might be a benefit.

"I'm thankful for the attorney general's investigation and the level of detail they've looked into," he said, noting that it has provided new awareness of the importance of good financial stewardship.

"The pendulum has swung from one end of the arc to another," he said of things like country club memberships, now fully paid by himself, not the zoo, even though it is used to entertain zoo donors and partners.

dnarciso@dispatch.com

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Watches, limos and luxury suites among Columbus zoo spending spree