A former Disney Cruise Line worker is starting a 15-month prison sentence after admitting to embezzling more than $250,000 from the company.
Renan Dias Da Rocha Gomes, 32, admitted to making unauthorized charges to a company bank account and loading the value of the funds onto Disney gift cards over a two-year period while working as a merchandise host on the Disney Wonder.
He also treated his family to a $37,000 vacation to Disney World paid for from embezzled funds.
He was able to fraudulently obtain funds by using access to an online payment system Disney Cruise Line used.
He was arrested by federal agents last year when the ship docked in San Diego.
"The sentence demonstrates that the federal government is committed to protecting consumers and enforcing the law against employees who embezzle funds from their employers for their own personal benefit," US attorney Adam Braverman said.
Brazilian national Gomes will have to pay restitution and will be deported on completion of his sentence.
