Victor Manuel Rocha, a former US ambassador to Bolivia, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for working as an agent for Cuba, a role he secretly carried out for over four decades, according to prosecutors.
In a Miami court, Rocha changed his initial plea to guilty in February, avoiding a trial.
Dressed in a beige jail uniform during his court appearance, Rocha admitted to his actions, stating, “I plead guilty.”
Apart from the prison term, he has been fined $500,000 and is required to cooperate with authorities.
US Attorney General Merrick Garland described Rocha’s crimes as “one of the highest-reaching and longest-lasting infiltrations of the US government by a foreign agent.”
Rocha, who is Colombian-born and educated at Yale and Harvard, served as a diplomat in various countries, including Bolivia, Argentina, Honduras, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic.
He also held roles in the National Security Council and worked as a consultant for the US military’s Southern Command.
The case came to light when an undercover FBI agent contacted Rocha via WhatsApp, claiming to represent Cuba’s intelligence service.
Rocha confessed to his espionage activities during subsequent meetings with the agent.
Former CIA counter-intelligence chief James Olson characterized Rocha as a “traitor” and condemned his actions as betraying the country.
He expressed frustration with Cuba’s intelligence service, noting their successful operations against the US over the years.
The case underscores the ongoing tensions between the US and Cuba, dating back to Fidel Castro’s revolution in 1959 and exacerbated by subsequent political shifts in both countries.
Source-BBC
