In a jaw-dropping turn of events, a man leapt from the Royal Caribbean cruise ship, Rhapsody of the Seas, near San Juan, Puerto Rico, allegedly to dodge a massive gambling debt of over $16,000. This dramatic incident unfolded on a Sunday morning, just as passengers were disembarking after a return from Barbados.

Authorities have identified the man as Jey Gonzalez-Diaz, who reportedly embarked on the cruise on August 31. The plunge into the Atlantic occurred around 9:15 a.m., precisely during a U.S. Customs and Border Protection inspection—a moment that was thrillingly captured on surveillance cameras.

Fortunately for Gonzalez-Diaz, he was rescued by a quick-thinking jet ski operator nearby. However, the situation only escalated from there. U.S. Customs agents found him later near the Puerto Rico Capitol Building, clutching a staggering $14,600 in cash, along with two mobile phones and multiple forms of identification.

According to court documents, Gonzalez-Diaz's legal troubles thickened when it was revealed that he was attempting to circumvent monetary reporting regulations upon entering the United States. He confessed to authorities that he jumped ship in fear of incurring taxes on the large sum of cash he carried.

Royal Caribbean later informed investigators that Gonzalez-Diaz had booked his cruise under the alias Jeremy Diaz and owed a hefty $16,710.24, primarily attributed to casino and gaming expenses. To add to his mysterious persona, records indicated that a man named Jeremy Omar Gonzalez-Diaz had been incarcerated at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Guaynabo since January, which Gonzalez-Diaz claimed was his brother.

When pressed for his full name during questioning, Gonzalez-Diaz delivered a surprising—and somewhat flippant—response, suggesting that the officers should already know his identity if they were competent at their job.

Local news outlet Wapa.TV reports that after a short stint in custody, Jey Gonzalez-Diaz has since been released on bail. This saga serves as a shocking reminder of the lengths some might go to escape financial entanglements—especially when fortune favors the bold on high seas!