September 2025 Hybrid (In-Person & Virtual): Carnivore - Herbivore - Greedivore (The Columbus Zoo Fraud)

Speaker: Ohio Auditor of State Office: Marissa Gibson, AOS SIU Investigator and Matt Klapheke, AOS SIU Senior Forensic Audit Manager

Topic: Carnivore - Herbivore - Greedivore (The Columbus Zoo Fraud)

Description:

A criminal enterprise highjacked the purse strings of the Columbus Zoo. We will examine multiple areas of fraud committed by zoo executives and how working in concert they covered up their fraud for nearly a decade. We will examine how this massive fraud motivated by greed resulted in four men winding up behind bars.

CPE: 2 hours

CPE credits are based on a 50-minute hour.  CPE is offered through the ACFE as well as the Accountancy Board of Ohio (sponsor number CPE.00467).  Attendees must attend 100 minutes of the meeting and answer 6 polling questions during the meeting to validate attendance. 

Learning Objectives: 

Promotion of improved fraud detection and deterrence and through expansion of knowledge in relation to the session's topic.

Prerequisites: None

Speaker Bios: 

• Marissa Gibson: Marissa is an AOS SIU investigator assigned to the Central region of the state. She has been a law enforcement officer since 2001, coming to the unit from a local sheriff’s office detective bureau. In addition to over twenty years in law enforcement, Marissa has also worked in the Anti-Money Laundering unit of a national bank. Marissa was the investigator for notable and successfully prosecuted cases including The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Knox County Engineer’s Office, Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, Richland County Job and Family Services, and the Marion County Clerk of Courts. Marissa has been with SIU since 2019. She holds a master’s in Criminal Justice from Tiffin University, a bachelor’s in criminology from The Ohio State University, and is a Certified Fraud Examiner.
• Matt Klapheke: Matt is a Senior Forensic Audit Manager in the Special Investigations Unit for Auditor of State Keith Faber. The Special Investigations Unit is responsible for conducting limited scope fraud and investigative audits of state and local government subdivisions to examine allegations of fraud, theft, and misappropriation involving public funds. Matt was involved in the investigations of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, the City of Nelsonville, the Athens County Metropolitan Housing Authority, the City of Mount Vernon Clerk of Court, the City of Hilliard Parks and Recreation, and the Columbus City Schools Data Integrity audit. Matt has been with the Auditor of State’s office since 2007, beginning his career as a financial auditor in the State Region and later as an Audit Manager. Matt earned both his master’s and bachelor’s degrees from the University of Dayton and is a Certified Fraud Examiner.

Note on Box Lunches: For in-person attendees who select and pay for a box lunch, we will order a standard Chick-Fil-A box lunch.
https://www.chick-fil-a.com/catering/chick-fil-a-chicken-sandwich-packaged-meal