A federal complaint states that a man named Jey González-Díaz allegedly jumped overboard a Royal Caribbean ship near the Port of San Juan (Puerto Rico) while the vessel disembarked, in an apparent attempt to evade more than US$16,000 in gambling debt owed to the cruise line.
According to court documents, González-Díaz had boarded Rhapsody of the Seas in San Juan on August 31st. When the ship returned from Barbados and was undergoing U.S. Customs and Border Protection inspection around 9:15 a.m., he entered the water and was later brought to shore by someone on a jet ski.
Near the Puerto Rico Capitol Building, CBP agents located him in possession of US$14,600 in cash, two mobile phones, and five identification documents. One of the IDs bore the name “Jeremy Omar González-Díaz,” who the complaint indicates has been in federal detention since earlier in the year. González-Díaz reportedly claimed this person was his brother.
He was also accused of seeking to avoid declaring the amount of currency he carried because he believed duties or reporting requirements might apply. Royal Caribbean informed authorities that the amount owed from his cruise account was US$16,710.24, largely resulting from casino and gaming expenditures.
After his detention, González-Díaz was released on bail. If convicted of the federal charge of evading currency reporting requirements, he could face a prison term of up to five years, a fine up to US$250,000, or both.
For more Rhapsody of the Seas incidents and accidents see the ship's CruiseMinus page.