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By Alia Shoaib
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A passenger on a cruise ship has been accused of jumping overboard with $14,600 in cash after racking up thousands in gambling losses on the ship, according to federal prosecutors.
Jey Xander Omar Gonzalez-Diaz was arrested on Sunday in San Juan, Puerto Rico, after being apprehended by passersby on jet-skis, according to a criminal complaint.
Newsweek contacted Royal Caribbean Group and the man's attorney for comment via email on Thursday.
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Why It Matters
The story highlights the importance of travelers adhering to their legal responsibilities when carrying large sums of cash into the U.S.
It also raises questions about whether cruise lines should monitor and manage high-stakes casino activity aboard their vessels.
What To Know
Gonzalez-Diaz was on the Royal Caribbean's Rhapsody of the Seas cruise ship when he jumped into the ocean as guests were disembarking in San Juan at around 9:15 a.m. on September 7.
While in the water, he was picked up and brought to shore by two people on jet-skis.
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Once ashore, Customs and Border Protection officers found thousands of dollars in cash on his person.
Royal Caribbean confirmed that Gonzalez-Diaz had accrued more than $16,700 in debt with the cruise line "almost exclusively associated to casino and gaming expenses," according to the complaint.
He told officers that he jumped off the ship because he did not want to report the cash he was carrying, as he believed he would be taxed on it when bringing it into the U.S.
He is now facing a federal charge of attempting to circumvent monetary reporting requirements when traveling to the United States.
The money was found inside a backpack on his person, and he was also carrying two mobile devices and five separate identification documents, some with different names.
Gonzalez-Diaz initially gave authorities an incorrect name, which he later claimed was his brother's.
The Rhapsody of the Seas takes several different journeys, including a seven-day route which begins and ends in San Juan, while stopping at several Caribbean islands in between.
Authorities said Gonzalez-Diaz boarded the ship on August 31, and he jumped overboard when it reached its final stop in San Juan on Sunday.
What People Are Saying
A Royal Caribbean Group spokesperson declined to comment to NBC News, stating: "As this is an ongoing investigation, we are working with authorities and don't have any more information to share."
What Happens Next
Gonzalez-Diaz now faces a federal charge for attempting to circumvent U.S. monetary reporting requirements.
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