COLUMBUS, Ohio — In Columbus, the former director of purchasing for the Columbus Zoo, Tracy Murnane, pleaded guilty on Monday as part of a broader investigation into the alleged theft of over $2.29 million, according to Auditor of State Keith Faber.
Murnane admitted to multiple felony charges, including grand theft, complicity in the theft of a motor vehicle, forgery, telecommunications fraud, and filing false tax returns. He also faced misdemeanor charges related to acquiring motor vehicles without proper titles.
Murnane entered his guilty pleas during a hearing in Delaware County Common Pleas Court and will be sentenced at a later date.
The investigation, launched in April 2021 by the Auditor of State’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU) and the Attorney General’s Office, revealed that Columbus Zoo executives used zoo funds for personal expenses, such as vacations, vehicles, concerts, and sporting events, from 2011 to 2021.
In September 2023, former CEO Tom Stalf, former CFO Greg Bell, and former Director of Marketing Pete Fingerhut were indicted on several charges, including aggravated theft, corrupt activities, telecommunication fraud, money laundering, tampering with records, bribery, conspiracy, and extortion.
Bell pleaded guilty in October 2023 to 12 counts of tampering with records, conspiracy, and aggravated theft, all felonies, and awaits sentencing. Fingerhut pleaded guilty earlier this month to several felony charges, including aggravated theft, tampering with records, telecommunications fraud, and conspiracy, as well as one misdemeanor count of falsification. As part of a plea deal, Fingerhut agreed to pay $675,572.65 in restitution and cooperate with the ongoing investigation. He also awaits sentencing.
Delaware County Prosecutor Melissa A. Schiffel appointed the office of Attorney General Dave Yost to lead the prosecution, with two attorneys from Yost’s office and one from SIU serving as special prosecutors in the case.