$16,710 Gambling Debt Linked to Rhapsody OTS Overboard Incident Near Puerto Rico Port

A recent federal complaint revealed that Jey González-Díaz allegedly jumped overboard from the Royal Caribbean ship Rhapsody of the Seas near the Port of San Juan, Puerto Rico, in a desperate attempt to avoid a gambling debt exceeding $16,000.

According to court documents, González-Díaz boarded the cruise on August 31 and, upon the ship’s return from Barbados, he jumped into the water around 9:15 a.m. during a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) inspection. He was subsequently rescued by a jet ski operator.

Agents located him near the Puerto Rico Capitol with $14,600 in cash, two mobile phones, and five identification documents, one of which carried the name “Jeremy Omar González-Díaz.” He claimed this individual was his brother and has reportedly been in federal detention prior to this incident. Authorities believe he tried to avoid declaring his significant cash haul, fearing potential duties or reporting obligations.

Royal Caribbean reported that his cruise account indicated a debt of $16,710.24, primarily accrued from casino activities. Following his detention, González-Díaz was released on bail. If found guilty of evading currency reporting requirements, he faces a possible five-year prison sentence and fines up to $250,000.

For more details about incidents involving the Rhapsody of the Seas, visit the ship’s CruiseMinus page.

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