Cruise Ship Gambler Jumps Overboard to Escape Debt, Now Charged with Federal Crime
A man accused of trying to escape a gambling debt by jumping from a cruise ship in Puerto Rico has been charged with a federal offense, according to court records. The incident occurred on Sunday as Royal Caribbean’s Rhapsody of the Seas docked at the Port of San Juan.
LISTEN TO THIS ARTICLE:Federal authorities allege that 33-year-old Jey Gonzalez-Diaz leapt into the water to avoid reporting more than $14,000 in cash he had on hand. This was in addition to a debt owed to the cruise line for casino gaming.
Related: Cruise Ship Casinos May Soon Operate oin Cayman Islands WatersThe criminal complaint filed in the US District Court for the District of Puerto Rico states that Gonzalez-Diaz had boarded the Rhapsody of the Seas on August 31 at the Port of San Juan. After a voyage that included a stop in Barbados, the ship returned to Puerto Rico on September 7.
As US Customs and Border Protection officers carried out routine inspections the morning of his failed escape, Gonzalez-Diaz jumped overboard near the port. The act was captured on surveillance video.
Investigators reported that Gonzalez-Diaz was rescued by an individual riding a jet ski who brought him to shore. Once back on land, authorities traced his movements and located him near the Puerto Rico Capitol Building. When officers stopped him, he was carrying $14,600 in cash, two mobile phones and five different identification cards.
According to the federal complaint, Gonzalez-Diaz admitted to authorities that he jumped from the ship because he did not want to declare the money he was carrying. He believed that reporting the funds would subject him to additional taxation or duties. Officials charged him with attempting to evade monetary reporting requirements when entering the US.
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The Case Takes Unexpected Turns
Royal Caribbean informed investigators that the man had booked his voyage under the name Jeremy Diaz. Records provided by the cruise line indicated that Gonzalez-Diaz owed $16,710.24, which the company said was almost entirely tied to casino and gambling transactions made on board the vessel. The debt remains unsettled.
Further scrutiny of his multiple forms of identification uncovered additional complications. Authorities discovered that a man named Jeremy Omar Gonzalez-Diaz has been in federal custody at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Guaynabo since January.
When questioned about the matter, the defendant said that the person was his brother. When pressed by investigators to give his complete legal name, Gonzalez-Diaz responded that they should already know it if they were doing their job properly.
After his initial arrest and questioning, Gonzalez-Diaz was released on bail. Local media outlet Wapa.TV reported his release but did not provide details regarding the conditions of his bail. Federal authorities confirmed that his case is pending before the US District Court in Puerto Rico.
If convicted of the charges, Gonzalez-Diaz faces serious penalties under federal law. He could receive a maximum prison sentence of five years, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. At this time, court filings do not indicate whether he has obtained legal representation to defend against the accusations.
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