A cruise ship passenger went to the extreme to allegedly avoid paying a $16,000 gambling debt.
According to CBS News, Jey Gonzalez-Diaz jumped from Royal Caribbean cruise Rhapsody of the Seas near the Port of San Juan in Puerto Rico on Aug. 31.
Upon the ship's return from Barbados on Sunday (Sept. 7), around 9:15 a.m. local time, Diaz reportedly leaped into the sea during U.S. Customs and Border Protection inspection. As seen in a surveillance video, the man was taken to the shore by someone riding a jet ski nearby.
According to court filings, Gonzalez-Diaz was later found by Border Patrol officials close to the Puerto Rico Capitol Building. He carried five IDs, two phones, and $14,600 in cash on him. The man is accused of attempting to evade monetary reporting requirements upon entering the United States.
Gonzalez-Diaz told officers in Spanish that he jumped due to not wanting to "report the currency in his possession because he thought he was going to be taxed duties for bringing in the currency."
Additionally, the man was booked under the name Jeremy Diaz and owed approximately $16,710.24 to the cruise line in gambling debt, according to the complaint.
Before later being released on bail, investigators asked Gonzalez-Diaz his full name.
"If you guys were good at your job, you would know that," he replied.
In June, a man jumped overboard from a Disney Dream cruise to rescue his child who fell into the sea, and both were safely rescued.
