Former Official Admits Embezzling from St. Louis Circus

ST. LOUIS – A former official with a St. Louis-based non-profit circus on Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026, admitted embezzling over $123,000 from December 2022 through at least September 2023.

George S. Pace, 63, of Ladue, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to four counts of wire fraud. He admitted using a credit card that he’d obtained without the knowledge or approval of the circus to pay thousands of dollars of personal expenses, including payments to nail salons, restaurants, and for skin care treatments. He used a second card for thousands of dollars more in unapproved expenses, including horseback riding-related expenses and payments to restaurants. When another circus official reviewed the second card’s expenses, Pace lied and claimed the card had been stolen. Pace presented the official with forged account statements falsely showing that he had resolved the charges.

Pace also diverted checks drawn on the circus’ bank account to himself instead of using them to pay down a line of credit. Pace’s diversion of the line of credit payments caused thousands of dollars in interest to be accrued by the circus. Finally, Pace deposited thousands of dollars of donor checks made out to the circus into his personal account. In the plea agreement, Pace admitted defrauding the circus out of over $123,015.94. Pace was on the board of directors beginning in 2020 and later became board president.

In his plea agreement, Pace also admitted fraudulently applying for two U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Assistance Loans totaling $29,400. The SBA denied the loans.

Pace is scheduled to be sentenced on May 4. Each wire fraud charge carries a potential penalty of up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both prison and a fine.

The FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gwendolyn Carroll is prosecuting the case.

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