A former manager at SeaWorld who embezzled $818,000 from the company was sentenced Sept. 23 to 30 months in federal prison for wire fraud and filing a false tax return.
Wilfred David Jobin-Reyes, 48, who is known professionally as Sebastian Jobin, was ordered by U.S. District Court Judge Jeffrey Miller to repay SeaWorld the $818,000 he took from them. He worked for SeaWorld for 17 years.
Miller also ordered Jobin to repay $177,000 to his former roommate, whose identity he used to get credit cards to spend at casinos and trips. Jobin has reached an agreement with the Internal Revenue Service to pay $207,000 as a penalty for not declaring his total income to the IRS.
Jobin will get credit for the seven months he has spent in prison since his arrest in Dallas where he had fled after SeaWorld investigators determined they had paid money to a phony company that Jobin owned for non-existent merchandise.
Jobin claimed the firm was a real company that sold trinkets and that some of his merchandise was for sale on a consignment basis in a Point Loma business. SeaWorld could only document one delivery of merchandise over eight years.
“I take full responsibility for my actions,” said Jobin. “I loved my job and I still love SeaWorld.”
Jobin read a letter about previous difficulties in his life, such as being molested by a teacher 30 years ago and developing an addiction to gambling and work. He said being fired from SeaWorld was his “biggest relief” so the fraud wouldn’t continue.
Miller told him bringing up unrelated things seem to him like a “dissertation of excuses” rather than acceptance of responsibility. “You were living a pretty high life … a pattern of conduct you were very comfortable with,” said Miller.
“This was a highly sophisticated, carefully orchestrated scheme over a long period of time,” said Miller, noting Jobin’s lavish trips, cruises, and clothing that he spent money on from illegal proceeds.
Noting the theft from his friend, Miller said this: “That was unconscionable what you did to him.”
Miller said once Jobin is paroled, his release conditions will bar him from gambling, having a job with fiduciary responsibilities, or soliciting any type of funds in any job. He ordered him to pay restitution at a rate of $500 per month upon release.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Allen and the probation department asked for a 37-month term. She noted that Jobin’s former roommate was actually a suspect in the theft initially because Jobin listed him as the owner of the fake company. Investigators later learned he was also a victim of Jobin.
Jobin’s attorney, Stacie Patterson, sought a two-year sentence. “He wants to pay back the money that was stolen,” she said. Jobin pleaded guilty to committing wire fraud and filing a false income tax return in May.