Former Columbus Zoo executive guilty in $2.3 million theft case receives sentence

DELAWARE, Ohio (WCMH) – The last of five former Columbus Zoo executives received his sentence after pleading guilty for his role in connection with the theft of $2.3 million.

On Monday a Delaware County Court of Common Pleas judge sentenced former marketing director Pete Fingerhut to five years in prison.

In July, Fingerhut pleaded guilty to 16 total charges felony charges, including aggravated theft, conspiracy, tampering with records, telecommunications fraud, and falsification. He will also pay more than $675,000 in restitution to the zoo and in back taxes as part of his plea agreement.

Fingerhut, whose jury trial was slated to begin on July 9 after his initial October plea of not guilty, is the last of five former zoo executives to be sentenced in the fraud case. He and the other executives were accused of using their positions to attend sporting events, offer housing to family and other personal uses.

Two weeks ago, the former CEO of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium who admitted to 12 counts of tampering with records and counts of theft by deception, conspiracy and telecommunication fraud, was sentenced to seven years in prison and ordered to pay over $315,000 in restitution.

Former purchasing agent Tracy Murnane, 65, of Westerville, pleaded guilty to eight charges, including grand theft, telecommunications fraud, and forgery. Murnane was sentenced to two months in jail last month.

Former marketing director Pete Fingerhut pleaded guilty to multiple felony charges. His jury trial was slated to begin on July 9 after his initial October plea of not guilty. Fingerhut is scheduled for a sentencing hearing Oct. 28.

And Greg Bell pleaded guilty to one charge each of conspiracy and theft and 12 of tampering with records. He was sentenced to three years in prison for his role in the scandal.

Last month, the last of the five former Columbus Zoo officials involved in the investigation, Grant Bell, also received his sentence.

They all have been ordered to pay full restitution in the following amounts:

• Tom Stalf, $315,572.65 
• Pete Fingerhut, $639,000
• Greg Bell, $583,697.44
• Tracy Murnane, $101,000
• Grant Bell, $8,554.61

All five defendants were also ordered to pay restitution totaling approximately $600,000 in a 2022 settlement.