A Florida man, Jaythan Gilder, has been found guilty of robbery and grand theft after stealing diamond earrings worth $769,500 from a Tiffany & Co. store in Orlando and swallowing the jewellery in an alleged attempt to conceal evidence.

The verdict was announced on October 22, 2026, by the office of Florida State Attorney Monique Worrell.

Gilder was convicted following a trial over the February 2025 theft at the luxury retailer’s store in the Mall at Millenia shopping centre.

His sentencing is scheduled for December 7, 2026.

According to prosecutors, Gilder entered the store on February 26, 2025, claiming to represent a professional basketball player interested in purchasing jewellery.

He was subsequently shown several high-value items, including two pairs of diamond earrings.

Investigators said Gilder grabbed the earrings, valued at a combined $769,500, and used force against a store employee who attempted to stop him before fleeing.

One pair of earrings was valued at $160,000, while the second was worth $609,500.

Following the incident, investigators tracked the vehicle used in the getaway.

Florida Highway Patrol troopers eventually stopped Gilder in Washington County, Florida. Authorities said he swallowed objects believed to be the stolen earrings during his arrest in an attempt to hide the evidence.

He was subsequently taken to hospital, where medical scans reportedly revealed foreign objects in his digestive system.

Authorities monitored him for nearly two weeks before recovering all four earrings. The jewellery was examined by a Tiffany master jeweller, who confirmed that the items matched those reported stolen from the store.

Following the conviction, Worrell said the case involved both substantial financial losses and risks to employees who were confronted with violence while carrying out their duties.

She commended the prosecutors, Orlando Police Department and other law enforcement agencies involved in the investigation.

The verdict means Gilder has been found guilty of robbery and grand theft. The court is expected to determine his punishment at the December sentencing hearing.

Gilder remains awaiting sentencing, with the court yet to announce the punishment he will receive.

The case has attracted attention because of the value of the stolen jewellery and the unusual attempt to conceal the evidence by swallowing the earrings.