ST. LOUIS – The former president of the Circus Flora board of directors was indicted Wednesday for embezzling more than $120,000 in three different scams between December 2022 and September 2023.
Prosecutors with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Missouri said George S. Pace, 61, was charged in federal court with six counts of wire fraud.
Pace is accused of using two credit cards to charge thousands of dollars for various restaurant trips and horseback riding-related expenses, among other items. When circus management asked Pace about the charges, he allegedly said the card had been stolen and that he was contesting the charges with the bank. He later forged documents to make it seem like the matter had been adjudicated.
In addition, prosecutors said Pace diverted more than $50,000 in funds that were to be used to pay down the circus’ line of credit at a bank. He also deposited donor checks worth thousands of dollars into his own bank account that was meant for the circus.
“For decades, the [circus] not only provided local families with wholesome entertainment, it gave away thousands of free tickets to underserved communities,” Special Agent in Charge Ashley T. Johnson, FBI St. Louis Division, said. “George Pace allegedly stole tens of thousands of dollars that could’ve been used to help even more families that are less fortunate.”
Circus Flora has retained legal help to seek restitution.
According to the indictment, Pace also applied for a U.S. Small Business Administration loan in August 2022 in the amount of $18,200 and misrepresented his income and bank balance. He applied for a second SBA loan for $11,200 but concealed that he’d already received two Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans for $38,515.
If convicted, each wire fraud charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.