He took “eating the rich” to an extraordinary extreme.
A Florida man has been found guilty after stealing more than $760,000 in Tiffany earrings and attempting to swallow the jewels to hide them from police.
A jury convicted Jaythan Gilder of robbery and grand theft in connection with the bizarre February 2025 heist at a Tiffany & Co. store inside Orlando’s Mall at Millenia, State Attorney Monique Worrell announced Thursday.
Gilder, who was 32 at the time, reportedly claimed to represent an Orlando Magic player to gain access to high-end jewelry. He then seized two pairs of earrings: one 4.86-carat set valued at $160,000 and another 8.10-carat set worth $609,500, according to WFLA.
Prosecutors said Gilder also used force against a store employee while making his escape.
Dramatic dashcam footage later captured Florida Highway Patrol troopers trying to prevent Gilder from swallowing the stolen earrings, which were worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.
In the video, Gilder can be seen struggling as three stunned officers wrestle him to the ground and repeatedly order him to “open his mouth.”
Authorities stopped Gilder on Interstate 10 and arrested him on a charge of resisting arrest. At the time, however, he was not charged with theft because officers could not locate the missing earrings.
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That changed after Gilder was taken to jail. According to an arrest report reviewed by WFLA, he spontaneously asked staff whether he would be charged “with what’s in my stomach.”
A trooper at the Orange County jail also reportedly heard Gilder remark, “I should have thrown them out the window.”
A body scan revealed the earrings moving through Gilder’s digestive system. He remained hospitalized for nearly two weeks until the jewels passed through his system.
Police said the recovered earrings were cleaned by Tiffany’s “Master Jeweler” before being returned to a company 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 a 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,” she said.
“Our office remains committed to holding individuals accountable when their actions threaten the safety of others and undermine the security our community deserves.”
Gilder is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 7.
