Former U.S. Ambassador Accused of Spying for Cuba for 40 Years: Government Officials

December 4, 2023 By admin Off

The ex-U.S. ambassador accused of spying for the Cuban government spent 40 years as a spy and claimed his work was “more than a grand slam.” Victor Manuel Rocha, 73, was formally charged Monday in a Miami federal court. He was arrested on Friday, over 20 years after serving as U.S. ambassador to Bolivia. The FBI caught Rocha by having one of its agents pose as a contact with Cuba’s intelligence agency. Rocha joined the State Department in 1981 and worked jobs dealing with Central and South America for the next two decades. He was later named Ambassador to Bolivia from 2000 to 2002. Throughout this time, Rocha was allegedly a Cuban spy, according to federal investigators. The FBI began their undercover operation to catch Rocha in November 2022, with the agent pretending to be a member of Cuba’s Dirección de Inteligencia. Rocha eventually agreed to three meetings with the undercover agent and referred to the U.S. as “the enemy” during their conversations. He also claimed that his actions had strengthened the Cuban revolution. Even after leaving the State Department, Rocha worked with the U.S. military from 2006 to 2012, providing advice on Central and South American strategy, including Cuba. The feds revealed their investigation on Friday, more than a year after it started, and arrested Rocha. He denied meeting with the undercover agent or working for the Cuban government. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew G. Olsen vowed to deliver justice to those who betray their oaths to the American people.