A former SeaWorld manager is accused of defrauding the theme park operator out of more than $800,000 in an embezzlement scheme that went on for eight years, the US Attorney’s Office said.
Wilfred David Joseph Jobin-Reyes, who is also known as Sebastian Jobin, pleaded guilty to wire fraud and tax charges after setting up a fictitious company.
His company, SJ Merchandise, sent SeaWorld hundreds of invoices for goods that didn’t exist and he used his position as show manager to approve payments.
These goods included animal wildlife themed souvenirs like bookmarks and keyrings, none of which SeaWorld ever received.
He is also accused of cheating the Internal Revenue after falsifying tax declarations.
Jobin-Reyes also admitted he got a friend to open bank accounts to distribute the misappropriated funds paid by SeaWorld, according to court documents.
He is due to be sentenced in federal court in August.
