A Royal Caribbean passenger is facing federal charges after allegedly leaping overboard in a dramatic attempt to avoid paying over $16,000 in casino debt accumulated during a week-long Caribbean cruise.
According to a federal affidavit, the passenger—identified as Jey Gonzalez-Diaz—jumped into the waters of San Juan Bay at approximately 9:15 a.m. on Sunday, just as the Rhapsody of the Seas was docking at the Port of San Juan in Puerto Rico. The cruise ship had departed Puerto Rico on August 31, made a stop in Barbados, and was returning from its voyage.
The reported motive? A staggering $16,710 in unpaid casino charges racked up “almost exclusively” in the casino during the voyage, according to the cruise line. Rather than settling the bill, Gonzalez-Diaz allegedly opted for a reckless escape—plunging into the harbor in full view of stunned passengers and crew.
Shortly after hitting the water, he was rescued by a jet ski operator, who was pulling another person on an inflatable raft. Security footage and photos from the incident show Gonzalez-Diaz clinging to the back of the jet ski as it transported him toward shore. In one still from the video, he appears soaked and scrambling onto the vessel.
After reaching land, Gonzalez-Diaz fled the scene on foot. However, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents caught up with him around 9:45 a.m., just a few blocks away near the Puerto Rico Capitol Building. At the time of his arrest, agents discovered that he was carrying $14,600 in cash, a handbag, two mobile phones, and five different forms of identification.
According to the affidavit, the various IDs bore conflicting names:
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A Tennessee identification card and Puerto Rico birth certificate were issued to a “Jeremy Omar Gonzalez-Diaz.”
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His Royal Caribbean boarding pass was in the name of “Jeremy Diaz”, the name charged for the cruise expenses.
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Meanwhile, a U.S. passport and Social Security card displayed the name “Jey Xander Omar Gonzalez Diaz.”
When federal agents asked him to clarify his true identity, Gonzalez-Diaz reportedly replied, “If you guys were good at your job, you would know that.” Puerto Rican state records later confirmed his legal name as Jey Gonzalez-Diaz.
Making the case even more curious, authorities discovered that someone with the name Jeremy Omar Gonzalez-Diaz—one of the aliases used—is currently incarcerated at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Guaynabo. Gonzalez-Diaz told investigators that the inmate is his brother.
Despite the high-risk escape attempt, Gonzalez-Diaz was eventually released on bail, but not without serious consequences looming. He now faces federal charges that carry a potential penalty of up to five years in prison and a fine as high as $250,000.
Royal Caribbean has not commented on whether the jet ski operator or inflatable boat passenger will face any charges for assisting the alleged fugitive.
