A man recently made headlines for jumping off a Royal Caribbean cruise ship near San Juan, Puerto Rico. His daring plunge was reportedly an attempt to escape over $16,000 in gambling debt he owed the cruise line.
Jey Gonzalez-Diaz boarded the Rhapsody of the Seas on August 31. As the ship returned from Barbados, he jumped into the water during a Customs inspection around 9:15 a.m. Fortunately, a passerby on a jet ski quickly rescued him, and the whole event was caught on surveillance cameras.
When he was found, he had $14,600 in cash, two cell phones, and multiple IDs. Investigators noted that Gonzalez-Diaz was trying to bypass U.S. currency reporting rules, fearing he would be taxed on the money he carried. He explained in Spanish that he jumped off because he didn’t want to report his cash.
Royal Caribbean confirmed that Gonzalez-Diaz was booked under the name Jeremy Diaz and had built up a gambling debt of $16,710.24, mostly from casino losses. Interestingly, background checks revealed another individual with a similar name, Jeremy Omar Gonzalez-Diaz, who had been in federal custody since January. Jey claimed this was his brother.
After his dramatic escape, Gonzalez-Diaz was later released on bail. If convicted, he faces stiff penalties, including a fine up to $250,000 or up to five years in prison. It’s unclear if he has obtained legal counsel.
This incident has sparked discussions online about gambling behavior and accountability. According to a recent survey by the American Gaming Association, nearly 47% of Americans believe that gambling addiction is a serious issue. Many online comments have ranged from disbelief at his actions to sympathy for someone struggling with debt.
This case serves as a reminder of the risks associated with gambling and the lengths people might go to avoid facing their financial responsibilities. As the legal proceedings unfold, it highlights the importance of understanding gambling behaviors and the consequences that can arise from them.
For in-depth information about gambling addiction, the National Council on Problem Gambling offers resources that can help.
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Puerto Rico, Royal Caribbean
