A Florida man has been found guilty of stealing and swallowing more than $760,000 worth of Tiffany earrings during an audacious jewel heist.
Jaythan Gilder was convicted of robbery and grand theft by a jury for the unusual theft that took place at a Tiffany & Co. store in the Mall at Millenia in Orlando back in February 2025, as announced by State Attorney Monique Worrell.
At 32 years old, Gilder pretended to be a representative for an Orlando Magic player to gain entry to the precious jewelry. He managed to grab two valuable sets of earrings — one valued at $160,000 and another worth $609,500, according to reports.
During the escape, prosecutors stated that he “used force against a store employee,” which added to the chaotic scene.
Disturbing dashcam footage later revealed Florida Highway Patrol troopers trying to prevent Gilder from swallowing the earrings in a bid to hide the evidence. In the video, he is seen struggling against three officers attempting to subdue him and demanding that he “open his mouth.”
He was stopped on Interstate 10 and initially charged with resisting arrest, but theft charges weren’t immediately filed since the stolen earrings were not recovered at that time. However, while in jail, Gilder reportedly asked staff whether he would be charged “for what’s in my stomach,” according to the arrest report.
One trooper overheard him comment, “I should have thrown them out the window,” which seems just a bit ironic, doesn’t it?
Following a body scan, authorities discovered the stolen earrings passing through Gilder’s system, leading to his hospitalization for nearly two weeks until the jewelry was finally expelled.
Once recovered, the earrings were cleaned by “Tiffany’s Master Jeweler” and returned to a company security manager, as per the police report.
In a statement, Worrell emphasized that this case involved significant financial loss and posed threats to employee safety, noting that violence in such instances is unacceptable. She acknowledged the hard work of the prosecutors and law enforcement involved in bringing Gilder to justice.
Gilder is expected to be sentenced on December 7.
