Florida Man Convicted of Swallowing $760K in Tiffany's Jewels

A Florida jury has convicted Jaythan Gilder of robbery and grand theft for a high-value jewelry heist at a Tiffany & Co. store, a crime that culminated in him swallowing more than $760,000 worth of diamond earrings. The conviction came Thursday, according to a statement from State Attorney Monique Worrell.

Gilder, then 32, targeted a Tiffany & Co. location at the Mall at Millenia in Orlando in February 2025. He allegedly posed as a representative for an Orlando Magic player to gain access to the store's high-end merchandise. He then seized two sets of earrings: a 4.86-carat set valued at $160,000 and an 8.10-carat set worth $609,500. During his escape, Gilder used force against a store employee, prosecutors stated.

Law enforcement apprehended Gilder on Interstate 10. During a roadside stop, dashcam video captured troopers attempting to prevent him from swallowing the expensive jewelry to conceal the evidence. The footage shows Gilder struggling as officers wrestled him to the ground and demanded he open his mouth. Initially, Gilder was charged with resisting arrest, as the stolen items could not be immediately recovered.

However, while in custody at the Orange County jail, Gilder made a spontaneous remark to staff, asking if he would be charged "with what's in my stomach," according to an arrest report. A trooper reportedly overheard Gilder state, "I should have thrown them out the window."

Following these admissions, a body scan revealed the stolen earrings within Gilder's digestive tract. He was transferred to a hospital, where he remained for nearly two weeks until the jewelry was recovered. The recovered items were subsequently cleaned by a Tiffany's Master Jeweler and handed over to a security manager.

"This case involved not only a significant financial loss, but also the safety of employees who were confronted with violence while simply doing their jobs," Worrell said in her statement. "This verdict sends a clear message that violence and theft will not be tolerated in our community. I commend the prosecutors who presented this case, along with the Orlando Police Department and all law enforcement partners whose work helped bring this defendant to justice."

Gilder is scheduled to be sentenced on December 7.