Global

Former US Diplomat Victor Manuel Rocha Sentenced To 15 Years For Spying For Cuba

Victor Manuel Rocha, a former United States diplomat, has been handed a 15-year prison sentence after confessing to working as an agent for Cuba, in what the US Department of Justice has labelled as one of the most extensive and enduring infiltrations of the US government.

US prosecutors revealed that Rocha clandestinely supported Cuba’s Communist Party and assisted in the country’s intelligence operations against the United States for over four decades, spanning his 20-year tenure in the US Department of State.

“Today’s plea brings an end to more than four decades of betrayal and deceit by Mr. Rocha,” stated David Newman, a senior national security official at the US Justice Department during a press conference in Miami, who further said that “for most of his life, Mr Rocha lived a lie.”

Rocha, aged 73, was apprehended at his Miami residence in December 2023 on charges of engaging in covert activities for Cuba since at least 1981, when he commenced his diplomatic career. Allegations against him include liaising with Cuban intelligence agents and providing false information to US government officials regarding his contacts.

Undercover FBI agents, posing as representatives of Cuba’s General Directorate of Intelligence, interacted with Rocha multiple times between 2022 and 2023. During these encounters, Rocha confessed to his decades-long collaboration with Cuba. Recorded conversations reveal Rocha’s admiration for the late Cuban leader Fidel Castro and his boasting about serving as a Cuban informant within US foreign policy circles for over 40 years.

Prosecutors cited Rocha’s self-congratulatory remarks, including his assertion that their actions were “enormous” and amounted to “more than a Grand Slam.”

US officials have expressed uncertainty regarding the full extent of Rocha’s cooperation with Havana, highlighting the challenges in assessing the damage caused by his espionage activities.

Ozioma Samuel-Ugwuezi

Follow us on:

Ozioma Samuel-Ugwuezi

Recent Posts

Trial Underway for Eight People Accused of Inciting Murder of Teacher Samuel Paty

Eight individuals are on trial in Paris, accused of inciting the murder of teacher Samuel…

20 mins ago

Indonesian Government To Evacuate 16,000 Residents After Mount Lewotobi Eruption

Indonesia is evacuating 16,000 residents after Mount Lewotobi erupted, resulting in nine deaths and significant…

32 mins ago

Philippines Stockpiles Food, Evacuates Towns As Typhoon Yinxing Threatens Northeast

The Philippines is stockpiling food, evacuating towns, and deploying soldiers in preparation for Typhoon Yinxing,…

47 mins ago

Harris Wraps Up Campaign in Philadelphia, Trump Rallies in Michigan as Tight Election Nears

Harris has concluded her campaign in Philadelphia while Trump gathers support in Michigan as election…

1 hour ago

Pennsylvania Judge Approves Elon Musk’s $1Million Voter Giveaway

A Pennsylvania judge has approved Elon Musk's plan to give away $1 million in support…

1 hour ago

Israel Hostages Forum Calls for Investigation into Leak of Confidential Documents by Netanyahu Aide

The Israel Hostages Group has urged for an investigation after a Netanyahu aide allegedly leaked…

1 hour ago