Ex-US Ambassador Receives 15-Year Sentence for Espionage on Behalf of Cuba | Global News

Former US Ambassador Sentenced to 15 Years for Spying for Cuba

In a shocking turn of events, former US Ambassador Victor Manuel Rocha has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for spying for Cuba for over four decades. The 73-year-old diplomat was arrested in December for what US officials described as one of the most significant infiltrations of the US government by a foreign agent.

Rocha, a naturalized US citizen originally from Colombia, began aiding Havana as a covert agent of Cuba’s General Directorate of Intelligence (DGI) in 1981. His espionage activities continued until his arrest, according to US authorities. Despite pleading not guilty initially, Rocha later accepted a plea deal with federal prosecutors.

During the sentencing hearing in Miami, Judge Beth Bloom handed down the maximum penalty permitted by law, along with a $500,000 fine. Attorney General Merrick Garland, who announced Rocha’s arrest, emphasized the severity of his actions, stating that Rocha repeatedly referred to the United States as ‘the enemy’ and bragged about his efforts on behalf of Cuba.

Rocha’s case is just one in a series of espionage incidents that have strained relations between the US and Cuba. The former ambassador’s arrest comes 15 years after the indictment of another American couple who spied for Cuba, highlighting the ongoing tensions between the two countries. Rocha’s betrayal of his oath to defend the US Constitution has sent shockwaves through diplomatic circles, underscoring the importance of vigilance against foreign espionage.