Federal Charges Filed After Cruise Passenger Jumps Ship Over Gambling Debt

Posted on: September 10, 2025, 02:59h. 

Last updated on: September 10, 2025, 03:05h.

Philip Conneller @casinoorgphilc Read More
Expertise: Gaming Business, Regulation, Tribal Gaming.
  • Passenger jumped ship to escape $16,710 casino gambling debt
  • Authorities seized $14,600 cash, phones, and multiple fake IDs

A Royal Caribbean cruise passenger who jumped ship to avoid paying a $16K gambling debt is now in federal custody, authorities said Tuesday.

Royal Caribbean, cruise casino debt, passenger jumps ship, Puerto Rico arrest, gambling addiction
Royal Caribbean’s Rhapsody of the Seas, the cruise ship from which Jey Gonzalez-Diaz jumped, allegedly to avoid paying the debt he ran up at the casino. (Image: Royal Caribbean)

Jey Gonzalez-Diaz leapt into the water as the ship, the Rhapsody of the Seas, was disembarking at the Port of San Juan, Puerto Rico, on Sunday. He was fished out of the water by a passing jet-skier and taken ashore — a moment that was captured by surveillance cameras.

Multiple IDs

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) caught up with Diaz shortly after near the Puerto Rico Capitol Building. He was carrying $14,600 in cash in a plastic bag, two phones, a handbag, and five IDs under different names, according to court documents.

CBP agents discovered that Diaz had used the name “Jeremy Diaz” to board the cruise. Later, they discovered that this was in fact the name of his brother, who has been incarcerated at the Guaynabo federal prison in Puerto Rico since January 2025 for drug trafficking and weapons possession.

Diaz told officials he had jumped overboard because he feared he would be taxed on the cash he had in his possession.

Royal Caribbean records showed that Diaz had racked up debts of $16,710.24 on the Rhapsody of the Seas during his round-trip cruise from San Juan to Barbados. This was related almost exclusively to casino gaming and gambling activities, according to court documents.

Diaz refused to be interviewed by Homeland Security Agents. He’s been charged with attempting to avoid monetary reporting requirements when traveling into the United States. If convicted, he could face up to five years in prison or a maximum fine of $250K, or both.

Similar Case Ended in Tragedy

Diaz’s premature disembarkation appears to have been a desperate bid to dodge paying the bill, but not every overboard story ends in rescue.

In May 2024, 45-year-old Australian father of three, Shane Dixon, died after jumping from a P&O Cruise as it returned to Sydney. Dixon, who was recently divorced and in financial difficulty, lost AU$9,000 (US$5,800) in the ship’s casino during the three-day trip.

Cases like Dixon’s have fueled criticism of how some cruise lines run their casinos. Critics say aggressive marketing, “free cruise” incentives, and easy access to credit can encourage people to gamble far beyond their means — sometimes with tragic consequences.