Man Jumps Off Cruise Ship to Evade Gambling Debt: Federal Charges Filed
A man who leaped off a Royal Caribbean cruise ship near the Port of San Juan to evade paying off a substantial gambling debt has been charged with a federal offense. Identified as Jey Gonzalez-Diaz, he boarded the Rhapsody of the Seas at the Port of San Juan on August 31. During the ship's return from Barbados, Gonzalez-Diaz jumped into the water as the ship was undergoing U.S. Customs and Border Protection inspection.
Gonzalez-Diaz was rescued by a passerby on a jet ski and later found near the Puerto Rico Capitol Building with a significant amount of cash, phones, and multiple IDs. He admitted to authorities that he jumped off the cruise ship to avoid reporting the currency he was carrying, fearing he would be taxed for it.
Further investigation revealed that Gonzalez-Diaz, who had booked under the name Jeremy Diaz, owed over $16,000 to Royal Caribbean, primarily due to casino and gaming expenses. It was also discovered that a person with a similar name was in federal custody since January, but Gonzalez-Diaz claimed it was his brother.
Despite being released on bail, Gonzalez-Diaz could face a hefty fine or a maximum five-year prison sentence if convicted of the charges. The case highlights the consequences of attempting to evade financial reporting requirements while traveling into the United States.