A passenger aboard a Royal Caribbean cruise ship is facing allegations of leaping overboard in an effort to evade settling a gambling debt exceeding £12,000. Identified as Jey Gonzalez-Diaz, he embarked on the Rhapsody of the Seas for a week-long voyage, culminating in its return to the Port of San Juan on Sunday.
During the ship’s journey back to port, Gonzalez-Diaz plunged into the water as passengers were disembarking, as indicated by a criminal complaint. The cruise line disclosed that he amassed a debt of £12,354 ($16,710) primarily from casino activities during the vacation, likely prompting his escape attempt.
Subsequently rescued by a passerby on a jet ski, he was later apprehended by US Customs and Border Protection officers near the Puerto Rico Capitol Building carrying two phones, five IDs, and £10,794 ($14,600) in cash—falling short of the total gambling debt. Among his possessions were a Tennessee ID, a US passport, a Social Security card, a Puerto Rico birth certificate, and a Royal Caribbean boarding pass.
Discrepancies in the names on the documents were noted by authorities, 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. ‘Jeremy Diaz’ had also made the cruise reservation that departed from Puerto Rico, visited Barbados, and returned.
Furthermore, the Social Security card and passport identified him as ‘Jey Xander Omar Gonzalez Diaz.’ When questioned about his real name, Gonzalez-Diaz responded cryptically, criticizing investigators’ abilities. Records confirmed his true identity as Jey Gonzalez-Diaz, with additional checks revealing an incarcerated individual named Jeremy Omar Gonzalez-Diaz, whom he claimed was his brother.
Explaining his actions, Gonzalez-Diaz stated that he avoided reporting the currency in his possession fearing taxation on duties. While released on bail according to local reports, he faces federal charges carrying a potential sentence of five years in prison or a fine of up to £185,000 ($250,000).