Final report on Columbus Zoo leadership theft released
The special audit into the zoo led to the convictions and prison sentences for five former zoo leaders who used zoo money for personal purchases for ten years.
Ohio's power grid operator warns of potential power shortages this summer
The executives paid for suite tickets for the Columbus Blue Jackets and Ohio State games, 2016 World Series tickets, One Direction concert tickets, vacations to Florida and limo services.
The final report included emails from the executives showing how they attempted to conceal the purchases by saying they were to entertain zoo donors and board members.
For their roles in the $2.3 million theft, former CEO Tom Stalf was sentenced to seven years in prison, former CFO Greg Bell received three years in prison and the former Director of Marketing Pete Fingerhut got five years behind bars. Combined, the men are paying back nearly $1.5 million in restitution.
The other two executives involved, Grant Bell and Tracy Murnane, received little to no jail time and are paying back much less in restitution.
New 'The Office' spinoff series to be set in Ohio
Ohio Auditor Keith Faber said current zoo leadership and the board of directors have made changes to make sure fraud like this does not happen again.
'This is a cautionary tale for everybody,' Faber said. 'Being on a nonprofit board is not just a ceremonial position. You get to just rubber stamp what the executives do. You have a real oversight role.'
The CEO of the Columbus Zoo, Tom Schmid, said the zoo is now focused on oversight for leaders and transparency. There is an ethics hotline for anonymous reporting, documentation on all transactions, a reduction in spending limits, and personal purchases are now prohibited.
'It's a new day, we have new leadership in place, we have a more engaged board of directors, we have dozens of new policies and procedures. I can assure you, under my watch, that this will not happen again,' Schmid said.
Faber said these new safeguards will better protect the zoo.
A rare wildflower that is only known to grow naturally in Ohio blooms in May
'I have confidence that the people of Ohio can say that the zoo has put its past behind it and has a structure in place that is going to make it much more difficult for somebody to lie, cheat, and steal and get away with it at the zoo,' Faber said.
Faber added that the previous Board of Directors should have noticed something was off with former leadership's spending.
The final report from the auditor included prevention recommendations to the zoo, and Faber said almost every recommendation has been followed.
The full report is available to read by clicking here.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Boston Globe
5 days ago
- Boston Globe
R.I. city reaches $300,000 settlement in lawsuit filed by Jewish employee, slapped in face as part of ‘Nazi joke'
Advertisement 'We are not commenting on the settlement at this time,' Tufts wrote. Broomfield is no longer employed by the city, according to Tufts. Records show the lawsuit was dismissed with prejudice on July 11 in US District Court in Providence. Get Rhode Island News Alerts Sign up to get breaking news and interesting stories from Rhode Island in your inbox each weekday. Enter Email Sign Up An attorney representing Broomfield did not immediately return a request for comment on Friday. The settlement comes months after Officials reached Advertisement Filed in October 2024, Broomfield's lawsuit describes an 'unlawful, hostile work environment.' A police report states DiPetrillo asked Broomfield to stand up and said, 'Knock, knock.' As Broomfield responded, DiPetrillo struck him in the face with an open hand, saying 'something to the effect of 'I'm a Nazi and I get to ask the questions.'' DiPetrillo explained to authorities he and other employees had been discussing an episode of the TV series 'The Office' that included 'The sound of the slap was audible,' the lawsuit states. Afterwards, DePetrillo 'burst out laughing hysterically' as others looked on 'in utter shock,' the complaint states. Broomfield 'was mortified, humiliated, and offended, as well as in pain and shock from the physical assault,' according to the lawsuit. The slap 'was very hard and left a big red mark' on Broomfield's face, the lawsuit states. 'This 'joke' was subjectively and objectively offensive,' and it was 'degrading' because Broomfield is of Jewish descent, according to the complaint. Broomfield subsequently asked the city for a transfer, but was told that was not possible, the lawsuit states. Broomfield was also told if he did not return to work, he would be considered on 'workman's comp.' He remained out of work while waiting for 'an alternate job and/or transfer' — just a 'few short years' from becoming vested in the 10-year pension level 'which means his effective termination has lost him hundreds of thousands of dollars of pension money,' the lawsuit states. The lawsuit sought to provide Broomfield back pay and compensation for 'mental anguish.' Advertisement Material from previous Globe stories was used in this report. Christopher Gavin can be reached at
The Hill
5 days ago
- The Hill
Rep Jim Jordan to be questioned under oath on Strauss sex abuse scandal
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) will answer questions under oath in relation to the Richard Strauss sex abuse scandal at Ohio State University, sources have told Nexstar's WCMH. After years of appeals, depositions are underway in the sexual abuse scandal involving Strauss, a former Ohio State University doctor. It has been seven years since the first lawsuits were filed against the university. Jordan is set to be deposed on Friday in Washington. Former Ohio State Athletic Director Andy Geiger was deposed on Wednesday in Los Angeles. Columbus says village's speed cameras are straining city's resources Jordan and Geiger are being questioned as part of civil lawsuits against the university. Neither have been charged with any crimes, but many have questioned what they knew about Strauss' behavior. In a statement, a spokesperson for Jordan repeated earlier denials. 'As everyone knows, Chairman Jordan never saw or heard of any abuse, and if he had, he would have dealt with it,' the spokesperson said. Attorneys for Ohio State University have also questioned some of the survivors, whose Title IX claims accuse the university of knowing what Strauss was doing, facilitating it, and concealing it. Survivors have shared their anguished stories as they described being sexually abused, even being drugged and raped by Strauss. But they also shared their anger as they learned the Strauss assaults lasted for nearly 20 years, and they said university leaders, even their own coaches, knew. At least four former wrestlers and one referee are on record saying they complained about Strauss to Jordan, a then-assistant wrestling coach. HBO recently released a documentary about the scandal. Marshall was interviewed for the documentary after reporting on the scandal for many years. Ohio State was not involved in making the documentary. The survivors of Strauss kept quiet for decades, internalizing their trauma, but back in 2018, they started talking. Hundreds of the survivors of the 20-year-long string of sexual assaults by the Ohio State team doctor still have cases against the university pending in federal court. In a previous statement to WCMH, an Ohio State University spokesperson said: Ohio State led the effort to investigate and expose Richard Strauss, and we express our deep regret and apologies to all who experienced Strauss' abuse. The university is forever grateful to the survivors who participated in the independent investigation, which could not have been completed without their strength and courage. Since 2018, we have reached settlement agreements with more than half of the plaintiffs, 296 survivors, for more than $60 million. All male students who filed lawsuits have been offered the opportunity to settle. In addition, the university continues to cover the cost of professionally certified counseling services and other medical treatment, including reimbursement for counseling and treatment received in the past.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Yahoo
Columbus lottery winner scratches off million-dollar top prize
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — The purchase of a $50 scratch-off turned out to be very profitable for one Columbus resident, who will be cashing in for decades. According to the Ohio Lottery, the anonymous winner bought the VIP Millions ticket at Kroger #549, at 1501 W. Fifth St. in Marysville. It turned out to be a top-prize winner. The winner chose to take the $40,000 a year for 25 years prize as an annuity instead of the cash prize. After mandatory state and federal tax totaling 28%, the winner will receive $28,800 a year for 25 years. As of June 25, 31 top prizes are remaining in the game. The overall odds of winning are one in 4.02. VIP Millions Prizes Remaining$50,000/ 20 prizes remaining$40K/YR for 25 years/ 31 prizes remaining$20,000/ 303 prizes remaining$5,000/ 607 prizes remaining$1,000/ 7,588 prizes remaining$500/ 38,787 prizes remaining$100/ 719,515 prizes remaining Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
