In Miami, a former American diplomat named Victor Manuel Rocha was sentenced to 15 years in prison for spying for the Cuban government and defrauding the US government. The case is considered one of the largest betrayals in the country’s foreign service history.
Rocha, 73, pleaded guilty to federal charges of conspiracy to act as an agent of a foreign government after reaching an agreement with prosecutors. Before his arrest in Miami on December 1st, Rocha had declared his innocence. However, after the arrangement, he confessed to his crimes.
Rocha spent decades at the US State Department, serving in Buenos Aires and Bolivia before leaving diplomacy for private business. His high-level security clearances gave him access to top-secret information. The case shocked American diplomacy when Attorney General Merrick Garland called it one of the longest-reaching infiltrations of the US government by a foreign agent.
The criminal complaint did not provide details on what information Rocha may have disclosed to Cuba or how it could have influenced US policy. Under the Foreign Agents Registration Act, those working for foreign governments must notify the US Attorney General’s office. Overall, Rocha’s case represents a significant breach of trust and national security and highlights the risks associated with espionage within the diplomatic community.
