Former Columbus Zoo CEO sentenced to three years in prison for fraud

DELAWARE – A former chief financial officer of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium was sentenced to three years in prison Monday for his role in a larger conspiracy that defrauded the zoo of at least $2.3 million, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced.

“Greg Bell succumbed to the temptation to enrich himself and his family at the zoo's expense,” Yost said. “Today's verdict should serve as a warning to those who dare to defraud taxpayers.”

In addition to the prison sentence, Delaware County Common Pleas Judge David Gormley ordered Bell to pay $583,697.44 in restitution.

Bell had previously agreed to pay the zoo separate civil compensation.

Bell is one of four zoo managers charged after an investigation by the Ohio Attorney General's Office and the Ohio Auditor General's Office found that zoo funds had been misused for personal gain.

Bell pleaded guilty on October 19, 2023 to 14 counts, including grand theft, conspiracy and forgery.

As part of his plea, Bell agreed to cooperate with the investigation and testify against the other zoo directors.

Ultimately, former zoo CEO Tom Stalf, former zoo marketing director Pete Fingerhut and former zoo buyer Tracy Murnane pleaded guilty.

Her verdict is still pending.

In the Bell case, prosecutors emphasized in their verdict the consequences of misusing donations:

“Charities and nonprofit organizations play a critical role in the state of Ohio, and those entrusted with the leadership of these organizations have a special responsibility to ensure that charitable assets are protected and used to further an organization’s charitable mission,” Yost said.

“When these assets are misused for the personal gain of executives and senior staff of a nonprofit organization, especially a nonprofit that receives taxpayer funds, it undermines public trust in charitable organizations in the state and thwarts the goals of those organizations.”

At the request of Delaware County District Attorney Melissa Schiffel, the Ohio Attorney General's Office's Special Prosecutor's Office prosecuted the case.