A cruise ship passenger is facing a federal charge after jumping overboard with thousands in cash on him this past weekend in Puerto Rico, after allegedly incurring about $16,000 in gambling losses on the high seas, federal prosecutors said.
Jey Xander Omar Gonzalez-Diaz was arrested on Sunday after allegedly jumping off Royal Caribbean’s Rhapsody of the Seas when it docked in San Juan, according to a criminal complaint by Homeland Security Investigation special agent Gabriel Santiago.
The passenger has been charged with allegedly failing to report the transport of monetary instruments over $10,000 from outside the United States. The complaint did not explicitly link Gonzalez-Diaz’s decision to jump overboard with his alleged debt.
Gonzalez-Diaz was fished out of the water by passersby on jet skis and brought to shore, where Customs and Border Patrol officers found $14,600 cash on him, the complaint said.
The criminal complaint states that Gonzalez-Diaz left the ship, allegedly owing Royal Caribbean $16,710.24 in debts that were « almost exclusively associated with Casino and Gaming expenses. »
When Gonzalez-Diaz was asked to explain the jump, the traveler allegedly told investigators in Spanish that « he did not want to report the currency on his possession because he thought he was going to be taxed duties for bringing in the currency, » according to the complaint.
A Royal Caribbean Group spokesperson declined comment, stating that « as this is an ongoing investigation, we are working with authorities and don’t have any more information to share.”
A lawyer for Gonzalez-Diaz couldn’t be immediately reached for comment on Wednesday.
