SeaWorld Manager Admits Embezzling $818K

SAN DIEGO (CN) — A former SeaWorld manager pleaded guilty Thursday to embezzling $818,000 from the San Diego theme park over eight years.

Wilfred David Joseph Jobin-Reyes, 47, aka Sebastian Jobin, used his position to pay more than 100 fake invoices from a sham company he owned called "SJ Merchandise."

SeaWorld officials got wise upon seeing that many invoices were for just under $10,000 — the threshold that requires approval from senior management, and bank reports.

Trinkets and souvenirs such as "wildlife animal bookmarks," "sea creature rings," and "purple shiny ornaments" were never delivered to SeaWorld.

Jobin-Reyes used his work computer to create the invoices using aliases such as "John Caldwell" to conceal his identity, U.S. Attorney Laura Duffy said in a statement.

Jobin-Reyes owes the IRS more than $200,000 for claiming fake expenses and reporting bogus business losses, according to the second count of the information. The first count is for wire fraud.

Jobin-Reyes was arrested in Dallas, in March and has been in federal custody as a flight risk. He is to be sentenced on Aug. 5.

Follow @@BiancaDBruno

Subscribe to Closing Arguments

Sign up for new weekly newsletter Closing Arguments to get the latest about ongoing trials, major litigation and hot cases and rulings in courthouses around the U.S. and the world.

Email *

Submit