As Circus Flora hoists its big top for a milestone 40th season in Grand Center, its former board president is heading somewhere far less festive. On Wednesday, George Pace, the onetime president of the circus nonprofit’s board, was sentenced to 22 months in federal prison for stealing more than $120,000 from the beloved St. Louis institution. He was also ordered to repay roughly $123,000 and cover about $8,000 in bank fees and interest.
Prosecutors had pushed for just under three years behind bars plus three years of supervised release, while Pace’s attorneys argued he should serve his time at home with five years of supervision, according to St. Louis Public Radio. The government framed the loss as especially damaging because the victim is a charitable group that serves children. Defense filings countered that a lengthy prison term would be crushing for the 63-year-old and would sharply limit his ability to work.
How investigators say the scheme worked
According to earlier local reporting, investigators say Pace’s scheme stretched from December 2022 through September 2023 and drew on a mix of old-fashioned skimming and modern paper trails. The case involved unauthorized credit cards, donor checks that never made it where they were supposed to go, and money that was supposed to pay down a line of credit but allegedly ended up elsewhere. Pleads guilty to embezzling over $123K and related court documents indicate Pace used organizational cards for personal expenses, including restaurants, horseback riding and skin care.
Reporting also shows he allegedly produced forged statements and submitted fraudulent Small Business Administration disaster-loan applications during the period under scrutiny, further deepening the financial hole around the circus’ books.
Circus Flora says it will move forward
Inside the tent, leadership is trying to keep the focus on the show. Executive and artistic director Jack Marsh said the organization is relieved to see the legal saga nearing its end and stressed that Circus Flora has strengthened its financial safeguards. In a statement to St. Louis Public Radio, Marsh described the company as a “purveyor of joy” and said the troupe is eager to move past the episode while keeping performances rolling under the big top.
The organization has been reaching out to donors and reviewing its internal accounting practices as it stages this season’s run, trying to reassure supporters that the money behind the magic is now under tighter control.
Legal takeaway
Federal wire fraud charges carry heavy potential penalties, and in this case the prison term, restitution order and additional fees are meant both to hold Pace accountable and to make Circus Flora whole. The case first surfaced publicly with an indictment last year, according to the St. Louis Business Journal, then moved through a guilty plea earlier this year before culminating in this week’s sentencing.
For small arts groups that lean on tight-knit boards and donor goodwill, the saga functions as a pointed warning about nonprofit governance and the need for clear, enforceable financial controls, even when the mission is all about fun under the circus lights.
