A man who jumped off a cruise ship to avoid paying a huge gambling debt has been charged with a federal crime.

Jey Gonzalez-Diaz, a guest on a Royal Caribbean cruise, disembarked the ship over the weekend to avoid paying off a $16,000 debt from gambling, according to CBS News.

The man jumped ship near the Port of San Juan in Puerto Rico as the Rhapsody of the Seas vessel returned from Barbados on Sunday. Gonzalez-Diaz made the leap during a U.S. Customs and Border Protection inspection.

Surveillance video shows Gonzalez-Diaz then being taken to shore by someone riding a jet ski nearby.

The man was later found by Border Postural officers near the Puerto Rico Capitol Building. He had five IDs, two cell phones and $14,600 in cash in his…

A man who jumped off a cruise ship to avoid paying a huge gambling debt has been charged with a federal crime.

Jey Gonzalez-Diaz, a guest on a Royal Caribbean cruise, disembarked the ship over the weekend to avoid paying off a $16,000 debt from gambling, according to CBS News.

The man jumped ship near the Port of San Juan in Puerto Rico as the Rhapsody of the Seas vessel returned from Barbados on Sunday. Gonzalez-Diaz made the leap during a U.S. Customs and Border Protection inspection.

Surveillance video shows Gonzalez-Diaz then being taken to shore by someone riding a jet ski nearby.

The man was later found by Border Postural officers near the Puerto Rico Capitol Building. He had five IDs, two cell phones and $14,600 in cash in his…

Public debt has always been a central concern of governments, economists, and financial institutions. In the 20th century, the question was whether sovereign debt could be sustained without triggering inflationary spirals or default. In the early 21st century, the conversation shifted toward fiscal rules, transparency, and sustainability in the face of crises like the 2008 global financial meltdown and the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, as digital finance rapidly reshapes the financial landscape, we are entering a new era in public debt management—one where technology, innovation, and data are as decisive as interest rates or macroeconomic forecasts.

A New Financial Environment

Digital finance—encompassing fintech platforms,…

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.

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…

Please note that by blocking any or all cookies you may not have access to certain features, content or personalization. For more information see our Cookie Policy.

To enable cookies, follow the instructions for your browser below.

Facebook App: Open links in External Browser

There is a specific issue with the Facebook in-app browser intermittently making requests to websites without cookies that had previously been set. This appears to be a defect in the browser which should be addressed soon. The simplest approach to avoid this problem is to continue to use the Facebook app but not use the in-app browser. This can be done through the following steps:

1. Open the settings menu by clicking the hamburger menu in the top right

2….