Federal Charges Filed After Cruise Passenger’s Alleged Ship Jump to Evade $16K Gambling Debt in Puerto Rico
Federal Charges Filed After Cruise Passenger’s Alleged Ship Jump to Evade $16K Gambling Debt in Puerto Rico
A man who allegedly jumped from a Royal Caribbean cruise ship near the Port of San Juan on September 7, 2025, to avoid paying off over $16,000 in gambling debt, has been charged with a federal crime. Jey Gonzalez-Diaz, who embarked on the Rhapsody of the Seas on August 31, reportedly jumped into the water during a U.S. Customs and Border Protection inspection as the ship disembarked.
Authorities stated that Gonzalez-Diaz was later brought ashore by a jet ski and subsequently located near the Puerto Rico Capitol Building. He was found carrying $14,600 in cash, two phones, and five identifications. According to the criminal complaint, he told officers he jumped to avoid reporting the currency, fearing taxation.
Royal Caribbean informed investigators that Gonzalez-Diaz, also booked as Jeremy Diaz, owed $16,710.24, almost exclusively from casino and gaming expenses. He faces potential fines up to $250,000, a maximum five-year prison sentence, or both, if convicted of attempting to avoid monetary reporting requirements.
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