Disney Cruise Ship Employee Busted For Embezzling $260,000 From The Walt Disney Company

Disney Cruise Ship employee Renan Dias Da Rocha Gomes was sentenced to 15 months in prison for wire fraud. Gomes operated a scheme that embezzled more than $260,000 from The Walt Disney Company.

The FBI and Homeland Security Investigations arrested Gomes on October 27, 2017. Federal agent arrested him when the Disney Wonder cruise ship made port in San Diego, California.

Gomes admitted that he was employed as a merchandise host on the Disney Wonder from 2015 until 2017.

Gomes admitted to fraudulently obtaining money through the cruise ship’s online payment system.

The Disney cruise ship employee made approximately $260,000 in unauthorized charges to Disney’s bank account. He then loaded the value of the funds onto Disney gift cards. Investigators found approximately 217 gift cards, a stolen watch, and $1,240 in cash.

Gomes also admitted that he used approximately $37,700 of the embezzled funds in 2017 to take his family to Disney World.  He also stated that he used the gift cards to pay approximately $8,200 for lodging and approximately $29,500 on food, beverage, merchandise and entertainment expenses.

The Court ordered Gomes to pay restitution to The Walt Disney Company in the total amount of funds he stole.  In addition, the Court ordered Gomes to criminally forfeit the stolen watch and $1,240 in cash which were proceeds of his wire fraud.

Gomes is a Brazilian national. He obtained a temporary visa to work on the Disney cruise ship.