Florida Man Convicted of Robbery After Swallowing $760K in Tiffany Earrings

A Florida man has been convicted of robbery and grand theft after prosecutors said he took more than $760,000 in diamond earrings from an Orlando Tiffany & Co. store and swallowed them to prevent investigators from recovering the evidence.

A jury found Jaythan Gilder guilty in connection with the February 2025 theft at the Tiffany & Co. location inside the Mall at Millenia, State Attorney Monique Worrell announced. Gilder, who was 32 at the time of the robbery, is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 7.

How the Theft Unfolded

Prosecutors said Gilder did not break into a display case or display a weapon. Instead, investigators said, he identified himself as a representative for an Orlando Magic player, a claim that prompted staff to bring out high-value merchandise that is typically kept locked away.

Employees produced two sets of earrings — a 4.86-carat pair valued at about $160,000 and an 8.10-carat pair valued at roughly $609,500, WFLA reported. Gilder took both and fled, using force against a store employee on his way out, according to prosecutors.

That physical contact elevated the case from a theft to a robbery charge under Florida law. In the state, taking property by force, violence or assault — even minimal force — can result in a robbery charge, which carries stiffer penalties than shoplifting or grand theft alone.

Stopped on I-10, But No Jewelry

Gilder was pulled over on Interstate 10, hundreds of miles from the mall. Dashcam video released by the Florida Highway Patrol shows troopers struggling with him on the roadside as they repeatedly order him to "open his mouth." Three officers eventually took him to the ground.

The earrings were not found. Gilder was initially booked only on a resisting arrest charge because investigators had no recovered property linking him to the theft.

While in custody, Gilder "spontaneously" asked jail staff whether he would be charged "with what's in my stomach," according to an arrest report. A trooper at the Orange County jail also reported overhearing him say, "I should have thrown them out the window."

A Body Scan and a Two-Week Hospital Stay

Acting on those statements, detectives had Gilder undergo a body scan. The images showed the earrings in his digestive tract.

He was held at a hospital for nearly two weeks while medical staff waited for the jewelry to pass naturally. Swallowing hard objects, particularly items with sharp prongs or settings, carries risks including perforation, obstruction and internal bleeding, and hospitals generally monitor such cases rather than perform surgery.

Once recovered, the earrings were cleaned by what a police report described as "Tiffany's Master Jeweler" and turned over to a company security manager.

Prosecutors Cite Employee Safety

Worrell said the verdict was about employee safety as well as the value of the stolen goods.

"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," she said in a statement. "This verdict sends a clear message that violence and theft will not be tolerated in our community."

She credited the prosecution team, the Orlando Police Department and other law enforcement partners, adding that her office "remains committed to holding individuals accountable when their actions threaten the safety of others."

A Common Approach to Luxury Retail Theft

While swallowing the stolen items is unusual, the method of entry is not. Luxury jewelers have long been targeted by thieves who exploit the industry's reliance on appointments, referrals and discretion, similar to how high-value collectibles shipments have become targets in transit. Posing as a celebrity's assistant, a stylist or an athlete's representative can be enough to get six-figure merchandise placed on a counter because such requests are routine at high-end stores.

The case also illustrates how evidence recovery can work in custody. Body scanners, now standard in many county jails, are used primarily to detect contraband such as drugs or weapons. In this instance, the technology turned a resisting arrest booking into a felony robbery prosecution.

Gilder remains in custody ahead of his December sentencing hearing.

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