Skip to content
August 28, 2025
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
  • tiktok
MILLENNIUM NEWS 24/7

MILLENNIUM NEWS 24/7

Bridging The Community’s World Wide

  • Home
  • IP TV LIVE
  • PODCAST
  • U.S.News
  • LOCAL ELECTION
  • State News
    • Alabama
    • Alaska
    • Arizona
    • Arkansas
    • California
    • Colorado
    • Connecticut
    • Delaware
    • Florida
    • Georgia
    • Hawaii
    • Idaho
    • Illinois
    • Indiana
    • Iowa
    • Kansas
    • Kentucky
    • Louisiana
    • Maryland
    • Massachusetts
    • Michigan
    • Maine
    • Minnesota
    • Mississippi
    • Missouri
    • Montana
    • Nebraska
    • Nevada
    • New Hampshire
    • New Jersey
    • New Mexico
    • New York
    • North Carolina
    • North Dakota
    • Oregon
    • Pennsylvania
    • Rhode Island
    • South Carolina
    • South Dakota
    • Tennessee
    • Texas
    • Virginia
    • Washington
    • West Virginia
    • U.S. Virgin Islands
  • Politics
  • World News
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
  • Weather
  • Business
  • Health News
  • ADVERTISEMENT
  • About Us
  • Contact us
Live TV

3 former Columbus Zoo executives indicted in $2.2M corruption scheme

Three former Columbus Zoo and Aquarium executives engaged in a pattern of corrupt activity that cost the facility more than $2.2 million, according to an indictment.

Tom Stalf, who was the zoo’s president and chief executive officer; ex-Chief Financial Officer Gregory Bell and Peter Fingerhut, its former marketing director “extorted, conspired, bribed and stole” while colluding with each other for over 10 years, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost said in announcing the 90-count indictment on Monday.

The charges stem from a 2021 investigation by The Columbus Dispatch, which found the executives allowed relatives to live in houses owned or controlled by the zoo and used company funds to buy tickets for family members to various events. Subsequent audits initiated by the zoo’s board found questionable business practices and improper spending on executives’ personal items including concert tickets, golf memberships and vehicles.

The indictment alleges that Bell knew that invoices or reasons for the invoices were wrong, yet he approved them. It also states that at one point, Bell changed his mind and “attempted to follow the law,” but his job was allegedly threatened by Stalf.

Yost said if any of the trio of indicted executives had done the right thing, the scheme to violate the public trust would never have happened.

“This required three people who should have been trustworthy to all work together,” Yost said.

The zoo announced in March 2022 that it had reached a settlement with Stalf related to the improper spending to pay back $400,000, which an August 2021 forensic audit said he received inappropriately. At the time, Stalf’s attorney said his client agreed to pay back the money so he could move forward with his life, but then said the zoo was previously aware of Stalf’s actions and alleged that officials scapegoated his client.

The zoo previously also reached a $132,000 settlement with Bell and made a deal with another executive to repay $11,000. That individual was not among those indicted.

Bell’s attorney, Sam Shamansky, told the newspaper his client has “accepted responsibility for his role in these offenses from Day 1. He understands the nature of the indictment and, for all intents and purposes, has already made complete restitution.”

Fingerhut’s attorney did not immediately respond to a message from The Associated Press Tuesday.

Concerns about financial mismanagement played a role in the zoo losing its accreditation in 2021, but that was reinstated by the Association of Zoos And Aquariums in March.

 

About Author

dreamboy

See author's posts

Post navigation

Previous Couple, 2 children and 3 dogs found shot to death in suburban Chicago home
Next Amazon driver in serious condition after being bitten by rattlesnake in Florida

Related Stories

Wildfires threaten homes in Oregon and California, prompting hundreds of evacuations

Wildfires threaten homes in Oregon and California, prompting hundreds of evacuations

Kilmar Abrego Garcia detained by ICE in Baltimore, faces deportation efforts

Kilmar Abrego Garcia detained by ICE in Baltimore, faces deportation efforts

Some FEMA staff call out Trump cuts in public letter of dissent

Some FEMA staff call out Trump cuts in public letter of dissent

Entertainment

James Cameron on two decades of making ‘Avatar’ and the future he sees for movies 1

James Cameron on two decades of making ‘Avatar’ and the future he sees for movies

Katy Perry testifies that she’s seeking ‘justice’ at trial over $15 million mansion 2

Katy Perry testifies that she’s seeking ‘justice’ at trial over $15 million mansion

Lil Nas X charged with attacking police officers as he walked naked on Los Angeles street 3

Lil Nas X charged with attacking police officers as he walked naked on Los Angeles street

Pennsylvania’s Chautauqua is a summertime haven for lifelong learners 4

Pennsylvania’s Chautauqua is a summertime haven for lifelong learners

Mariah the Scientist’s ‘Hearts Sold Separately’ mixes love potions and pensive emotions 5

Mariah the Scientist’s ‘Hearts Sold Separately’ mixes love potions and pensive emotions

At the Pennsylvania Chautauqua, the ‘good use of leisure time’ is an art form 6

At the Pennsylvania Chautauqua, the ‘good use of leisure time’ is an art form

Brent Hinds, former Mastodon singer-guitarist, dies at 51 in motorcycle crash 7

Brent Hinds, former Mastodon singer-guitarist, dies at 51 in motorcycle crash

Top News

James Cameron on two decades of making ‘Avatar’ and the future he sees for movies

James Cameron on two decades of making ‘Avatar’ and the future he sees for movies

Katy Perry testifies that she’s seeking ‘justice’ at trial over $15 million mansion

Katy Perry testifies that she’s seeking ‘justice’ at trial over $15 million mansion

A look at Uganda, the east African nation where the US is set to deport Abrego Garcia

A look at Uganda, the east African nation where the US is set to deport Abrego Garcia

Israeli military says strikes on Gaza hospital targeted a Hamas camera, without providing evidence

Israeli military says strikes on Gaza hospital targeted a Hamas camera, without providing evidence

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
  • tiktok
Editor: Nur M Tofader, Home Office: 250 Park Avenue, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10177 Tell: 718 893 0002 (Office), 7188441300, +1212 401 6266, e-mail: Info@millenniuamtv24.com, e-mail: Info@millenniuamnews24.com, Copyright © Millennium News 24/7 | DarkNews by AF themes.