A passenger aboard a Royal Caribbean cruise ship is facing allegations of leaping off the vessel to evade settling over £12,000 in gambling debts. Identified as Jey Gonzalez-Diaz, the individual embarked on the Rhapsody of the Seas for a week-long voyage, concluding its journey upon arrival at the Port of San Juan on Sunday.
During the return trip to port, Gonzalez-Diaz reportedly plunged into the water as the ship was disembarking, around 9 a.m. local time, as detailed in a criminal complaint. Royal Caribbean disclosed that he amassed a debt of £12,354 ($16,710) predominantly from casino activities during the vacation, likely motivating his escape attempt.
Following his leap, Gonzalez-Diaz was assisted to shore by a passerby on a jet ski, captured on surveillance footage. However, he was apprehended by US Customs and Border Protection officers near the Puerto Rico Capitol Building, as reported by CBS News. At the time of his arrest, he was found in possession of two phones, five IDs, and £10,794 ($14,600) in cash, falling short by nearly £4,000 of his total gambling debt.
Among his identification documents were a Tennessee ID card, a US passport, a Social Security card, a Puerto Rico birth certificate, and a Royal Caribbean boarding pass. Notably, variations in names were observed across the documents, with the Tennessee ID and birth certificate issued to a ‘Jeremy Omar Gonzalez-Diaz,’ while the boarding pass bore the name ‘Jeremy Diaz,’ under which the gambling expenses were billed.
It was ‘Jeremy Diaz’ who booked the cruise that set sail from Puerto Rico, visited Barbados, and returned, as indicated by the boarding pass. The Social Security card and passport, however, displayed the name ‘Jey Xander Omar Gonzalez Diaz.’
When questioned about his true identity, Gonzalez-Diaz retorted, ‘If you guys were good at your job, you would know that,’ according to the affidavit. State records in Puerto Rico confirmed Jey Gonzalez-Diaz as the defendant’s authentic identity, further revealing an incarcerated individual named Jeremy Omar Gonzalez-Diaz in Guaynabo since January, whom Gonzalez-Diaz claimed to be his brother.
Explaining his leap from the cruise ship, Gonzalez-Diaz cited concerns about potential taxation on the currency in his possession, leading him to avoid reporting it. While he has been released on bail according to local sources, Gonzalez-Diaz faces federal charges that could result in a five-year prison sentence or a fine of up to £185,000 ($250,000).