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The former marketing director for the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium has admitted to 16 felonies and a misdemeanor, just a week before his trial for his role in the $2.3 million theft of public funds from the zoo, the Ohio attorney general announced.

Ohio Zoo worker $2.3M Theft : Plea and Restitution Agreement

Peter Fingerhut confessed to 16 felony counts, including aggravated theft, conspiracy, tampering with records, and telecommunications fraud, along with one misdemeanor count of falsification on Tuesday, according to an announcement from Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost. As part of his plea agreement, Fingerhut will pay $675,572.65 in restitution. The restitution includes funds to be returned to the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, back taxes owed to the state of Ohio, and the Internal Revenue Service, Yost's announcement states. Fingerhut's guilty plea follows that of the zoo's former chief financial officer, Gregory Bell, who pled guilty to his role in the theft in October.

Ongoing Legal Proceedings

Both Fingerhut and Bell are to be sentenced after the proceedings against their alleged co-conspirators conclude, Yost's announcement states. Fingerhut and Bell were initially indicted alongside the zoo's former chief executive officer, Thomas Stalf, who is scheduled for trial on Aug. 6. Tracy Murnane, a former purchasing agent for the zoo, was also charged on June 23 for his alleged involvement in the theft scheme and is set to be arraigned on July 8, according to Yost's announcement.

Ohio Zoo worker $2.3M Theft : Details of the Theft

The government's indictment against Fingerhut alleges that the former marketing director and his co-conspirators used the $2.3 million they allegedly stole for personal expenses, including concert tickets, travel, sporting equipment, and other purchases. The indictment states Fingerhut also threatened a zoo vendor into paying him tens of thousands of dollars and worked to conceal the theft by having the vendor falsify invoices. Fingerhut reportedly had other vendors pay bills for events he and his co-conspirators attended at locations like Columbus' Nationwide Arena and the Dublin Irish Festival. He then invoiced the zoo for the same amount to disguise the actual use of the zoo's funds, according to the indictment.

Legal Representation and Case Information

Fingerhut's counsel did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Wednesday. A representative for the Ohio Attorney General's Office declined to comment. Fingerhut is represented by Diane M. Menashe and James N. Pfeiffer of The Menashe Law Group LLC. Ohio is represented by Daniel Kasaris of the Ohio Attorney General's Office.