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Disney Cruise Line worker accused of six-figure embezzlement
A Disney Cruise Line crew member has been busted for an elaborate embezzlement scheme.
According to the FBI affidavit, Brazilian national Renan Dias Da Rocha Gomes embezzled $275,000 over the course of two years.
He loaded embezzled funds onto Disney gift cards while working as a merchandise host at shipboard stores.
Some of the money found its way back in Disney’s coffers after he treated his family to a $35,000 vacation at Disney World.
He is charged with wire fraud, which could land him 20 years in prison and up to a $250,000 fine.
As the offenses took place in international waters, he was picked up by the FBI this week when the Disney Wonder returned to San Diego after a Mexico cruise.
FBI special agent Joyce Deniz said that Gomes used the ID of another cruise ship employee to gain access to the funds.
"Gomes further admitted that he began by embezzling approximately $40 and realized that nothing happened to him. He immediately thereafter began loading the limit amount of $1,000 onto multiple gift cards while working on the ship," the affidavit said.
He was detained in custody pending arraignment after being deemed a flight risk.
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Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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