A traveler on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship reportedly leaped overboard in an alleged bid to evade settling a gambling debt exceeding £12,000. Identified as Jey Gonzalez-Diaz, the individual embarked on the Rhapsody of the Seas for a week-long voyage that concluded upon its return to the Port of San Juan.
During the ship’s return journey to port, Gonzalez-Diaz purportedly jumped into the water as passengers were disembarking, as detailed in a criminal complaint. Royal Caribbean disclosed that the substantial debt of £12,354 ($16,710) was primarily accrued from casino activities during the vacation, presumably motivating the escape attempt.
Subsequently, Gonzalez-Diaz was assisted to shore by a passerby on a jet ski, as revealed in surveillance footage. However, he was apprehended by US Customs and Border Protection officers near the Puerto Rico Capitol Building. Upon arrest, he was found in possession of two phones, five identification documents, and £10,794 ($14,600) in cash – falling short by nearly £4,000 of his total gambling debt.
Among the various forms of identification Gonzalez-Diaz carried were a Tennessee ID card, a US passport, a Social Security card, a Puerto Rico birth certificate, and a Royal Caribbean boarding pass. Notably, inconsistencies in the names used across the documents were noted by authorities, with the cruise gambling expenses billed under the name ‘Jeremy Diaz.’
Subsequent investigations revealed that the defendant’s true identity was Jey Gonzalez-Diaz, as confirmed by Puerto Rico state records. Additional checks indicated that an individual named Jeremy Omar Gonzalez-Diaz had been incarcerated since January, with Gonzalez-Diaz claiming him to be his brother.
When questioned about his actions, Gonzalez-Diaz explained that he refrained from declaring the cash in his possession due to concerns about potential taxation. Despite being released on bail according to local reports, he faces federal charges that could result in a five-year prison term or a fine of up to £185,000 ($250,000).
