NBA Rep Caught Swallowing $769K in Stolen Tiffany Jewelry.
In a daring heist at Tiffany & Co.’s Orlando store on February 26, 2025, 32-year-old Jaythan Lawrence Gilder impersonated an NBA agent to steal diamond earrings valued at $769,500. Gilder, hailing from Houston, Texas, claimed to represent an Orlando Magic player, gaining access to the store’s VIP room where high-value items were displayed.
Once inside, Gilder seized two pairs of diamond earrings—one 4.86-carat set worth $160,000 and another 8.10-carat set valued at $609,500. He also attempted to take a $587,000 ring but dropped it during a scuffle with a store employee, Amit Nayee, who sustained visible injuries while trying to prevent the theft.
Gilder fled the store, and security footage captured him entering a vehicle. The Florida Highway Patrol later stopped the car on Interstate 10 in Washington County for a traffic violation. During the arrest, Gilder resisted and was seen swallowing several objects believed to be the stolen earrings. A body scan at the Washington County jail confirmed the presence of foreign items in his digestive tract.
While in custody, Gilder reportedly asked jail staff, “Am I going to be charged with what’s in my stomach?” He also remarked, “I should have thrown them out the window,” indicating awareness of the evidence inside him.
Gilder’s criminal history includes a similar robbery at a Tiffany & Co. store in Texas in 2022 and 48 outstanding warrants in Colorado. He now faces charges of first-degree grand theft and robbery with a mask.
Authorities are awaiting the natural passage of the ingested earrings to recover the stolen items and proceed with the investigation.
