![SeaWorld Entertainment Inc.'s stock dropped less than two percent a day after a TV report about a criminal investigation into the theme park operator. [ CHARLIE KAIJO | Times file photo]](https://www.tampabay.com/resizer//ZAWBOU7Sl6gUNPpIxncv_Q6hjX4=/426x0/smart/filters:format(webP)/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-tbt.s3.amazonaws.com/public/B3TGA6GJHQI6TAOPPAY4DVT77I.jpg "SeaWorld Entertainment Inc.'s stock dropped less than two percent a day after a TV report about a criminal investigation into the theme park operator. [ CHARLIE KAIJO | Times file photo]")
SeaWorld Entertainment Inc.'s stock dropped nearly three percent Tuesday, the day after an Orlando TV station reported that the U.S. Justice Department has launched a criminal investigation into the company. SeaWorld says it has been cooperating with the investigation since June.
Sandra Moser, acting chief of the DOJ's Fraud Section, confirmed that the office is starting an investigation, according to the report from Orlando's News 6. The probe examines a 2014 lawsuit filed by SeaWorld investors, who claim the company executives lied about the negative impact of the documentary "BlackFish" on the Orlando-based theme park's attendance and revenue. The documentary raised concerns about how SeaWorld treated killer whales at its theme parks.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: SeaWorld reports loss as 'Blackfish' and competition continue to haunt fortunes
Contact Tierra Smith at tsmith@ tampabay.com or (414) 702-5006. Follow @bytierrasmith.
/s3.amazonaws.com/arc-authors/tbt/068511cb-90ee-446c-962b-cb030120a049.png "Times Staff Writer")
/www.tampabay.com/resizer/UwNW77LxEHDO3EpO93MGyt3rN6I=/1200x675/smart/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/DU6R4NGJQAI6TMRBPAY4DVT77I.jpg "Top 15 Tampa Bay area events for the week of June 27-July 3")
/www.tampabay.com/resizer/AJwACeMRV8UmU7-_7i-3v1jJCCE=/1200x675/smart/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/X5B5KTIQBOXV7RMP4NMJXA2E7A.jpg "56 ways to celebrate the Fourth of July in the Tampa Bay area")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/YATS6NY2MJE2DKQAVAKM7B23YI.jpg "Biden offshore drilling proposal would allow up to 11 oil and gas lease sales")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/6UNIMOWIDQI6TJTLIBWI6S7HAY.jpg "Whole Foods at Countryside Mall in Clearwater re-opens after fire")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/MJDHVFAB6RDBBED5K2EBXPSEQA.jpg "Cyberattack disrupts unemployment benefits in Florida, other states")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/WKNOPC32JVHAVB3QD37U4RCSFE.jpeg "Fatburger will return to Tampa Bay, with first restaurant in Riverview")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/47XOTRJJP5E3HDF4MWUPCOH3BA.JPG "New sales tax holidays starting Friday for Floridians: what’s included")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/UW4KFMDGZBGJLGKUF5JZIBVAYQ.jpg "Supreme Court’s EPA ruling could slow Florida’s climate change fight")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/A5Z3PMKJEVELLLYXOZHIYDEQDA.jpeg "New stores hitting Brandon mall: Wigs, grilled cheese and lingerie")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/A6NFHJX2WFCBBMDQGI7C7BJPHI.jpg "As chlorine plant moves out of Tampa’s Rattlesnake Point, development readies")
