Columbus Zoo and Aquarium officials have filed lawsuits seeking foreclosure on the homes of at least three former executives as part of restitution they owe for their roles in a multiyear scheme to defraud the zoo and taxpayers of almost $2.3 million.
The zoo filed complaints for foreclosure of judgment liens this week against former CEO Tom Stalf, former Chief Financial Officer Greg Bell and former marketing director Peter Fingerhut.
Stalf was sentenced to seven years in prison and ordered to pay restitution of $315,573 on top of $400,000 already paid to the zoo by his now-former employer, Germain Motor Company. According to Delaware County court records, he still owes $308,141. In a complaint filed Tuesday, the zoo wants a judge to foreclose a judgment lien and order the foreclosure sale of his home at 1022 River Road in Radnor Township, Delaware County, to recover the balance.
The assessed value on the 3,000-square-foot, four-bedroom, two-bathroom home and the 15 acres is $629,600, according to the Delaware County Auditor’s Office.
Former Columbus Zoo and Aquarium Chief Financial Officer Greg Bell, left, sits with his attorney, Sam Shamansky, during an October 2023 hearing in Delaware County Common Pleas Court.
Bell was sentenced in August to three years in prison and ordered to pay $583,697, plus a $10,000 fine and court costs. According to a lawsuit zoo officials filed Wednesday, Bell has paid the zoo $94,121, but still owes $444,576. The zoo wants a foreclosure and sale of his home at 520 Murnan Road in Prairie Township to recover the balance.
The assessed value of the 2,300-square-foot, three-bedroom, two-bathroom home and the 3.5 acres is $382,500, according to the Franklin County Auditor’s Office.
Peter Fingerhut, former marketing director, was sentenced to four years in prison and ordered to pay $639,297 in restitution. According to court records, he still owes all $639,297 in restitution, though he has paid nearly $12,500 in fines and other costs. The zoo is seeking a foreclosure and sale of his home at 5092 Shadow Woods Court in Concord Township, near Powell.
The assessed value of the 2,800-square-foot, four-bedroom, 2 ½-bathroom home and the 0.3-acre property is $437,500, according to the Delaware County Auditor’s Office.
Other lienholders on the properties would typically be paid before the zoo receives any money.
Those other lienholders listed as defendants in the three cases are:
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Greg and Janice Bell, Third Federal Savings and Loan Association of Cleveland, Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems Inc. and First Federal Community Bank of Bucyrus
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Tom and Colleen Stalf, Fifth Third Bank National Association of Columbus and Delaware County
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Peter and Joni Fingerhut, Union Savings Bank of Cincinnati and Delaware County
It is unclear what, if any, legal recourse, including appeals, the Stalfs, Bells and Fingerhuts have to contest the action.
Other former zoo officials convicted in the scandal include:
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Grant Bell, Greg’s son, was ordered to repay $8,554, but received no jail or prison time. According to court records, Grant Bell’s restitution was paid in full as of Thursday.
dnarciso@dispatch.com
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ex-Columbus Zoo execs could lose homes to foreclosure to pay restitution
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