ORLANDO (TCN) — A man has been found guilty of robbery after swallowing $769,000 in jewelry from a high-end retailer in 2025.
According to KSL, Jaythan Lawrence Gilder, 32 at the time, arrived at Tiffany and Co. in February 2025 posing as a representative for a member of the Orlando Magic basketball team. He stated the player was interested in buying jewelry and asked to be taken to a private room to view it. Once in the private room, he reportedly grabbed the jewelry and ran from the store. As he did so, he reportedly injured one of the store’s employees.
In addition to four earrings, Gilder allegedly attempted to steal a ring worth $1.3 million, the Orlando Sentinel reports.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Gilder swallowed the jewelry when he was stopped, KSL reports. An arrest affidavit obtained by the Sentinel says a scan taken of his stomach taken when he was in jail appeared to show jewelry. The affidavit states he asked jail staff, “Am I going to be charged with what’s in my stomach?”
According to State Attorney Monique H. Worrell, authorities monitored Gilder for approximately two weeks before recovering the jewelry, which matched the items reported stolen from Tiffany and Co.
On Oct. 23, a jury found Gilder guilty of robbery, according to the state attorney’s office. Sentencing information will be available at a later date. Worrell said, “This verdict sends a clear message that violence and theft will not be tolerated in our community.”
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