A former US diplomat informed a federal judge on Thursday of his intention to plead guilty to charges of serving as a secret agent for communist Cuba for decades, leading to a surprisingly quick resolution to a case described by prosecutors as a major betrayal in the history of the US foreign service.
Victor Manuel Rocha's dramatic downfall may result in a significant prison sentence following his decision to confess to federal charges of conspiring to act as an agent of a foreign government.
Former US Diplomat Admits Spying For Communist Cuba
Prosecutors and Rocha's attorney revealed that the plea deal involves a prearranged sentence, but they did not provide specifics during a hearing on Thursday. He will need to return to court on April 12 to finalize his guilty plea and receive his sentence.
The short hearing did not provide any new insights into the ongoing mystery surrounding Rocha's activities during his time at the State Department for twenty years. That involved serving as ambassador to Bolivia and holding key positions in Argentina, Mexico, the White House, and the US Interests Section in Havana.
Known as Ambassador Rocha, he was a familiar figure among Miami's high society, exuding an aristocratic and regal air that matched his Ivy League education. After leaving his government position, he served as a special adviser to the commander of the US Southern Command. More recently, he has been known as a vocal supporter of Donald Trump and a hardliner on Cuba, a persona that some say he used to conceal his actual loyalties.
Peter Lapp, who managed FBI counterintelligence against Cuba from 1998 to 2005, mentioned that the swift resolution of the case is advantageous for both the elderly Rocha and the government. It provides valuable insights into Cuba's infiltration of US foreign policy circles.
In counterintelligence cases, defendants are usually accused of espionage. However, Rocha faced allegations of engaging as a foreign agent, which come with potential sentences ranging from five to 10 years behind bars. This situation facilitated negotiations between prosecutors and Rocha.
Rocha was taken into custody by the FBI at his residence in Miami over accusations of participating in covert operations for Cuba dating back to 1981. These activities allegedly involved interactions with Cuban intelligence agents and deceiving US authorities about his connections.
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Victor Manuel Rocha's Case
Rocha made a series of recorded admissions to an undercover FBI agent posing as a Cuban intelligence operative, praising the late Cuban leader Fidel Castro as "comandante", branding the US the "enemy" and bragging about his service for more than 40 years as a Cuban mole in the heart of US foreign policy circles, prosecutors said in court records.
There has been limited information released by federal authorities regarding Rocha's actions to assist Cuba. FBI and state department investigators are currently working on a confidential damage assessment, which may span over several years.
However, a recent investigation by the Associated Press uncovered numerous overlooked warning signs throughout the years. In 2006, a tip was received by a longtime CIA operative warning that Rocha was working as a double agent. It was never followed up on. It was discovered that the CIA had known since 1987 about a potential spy within the US government, with suspicions pointing towards Rocha.
Rocha decided to plead guilty on Thursday shortly after the widow of a well-known Cuban dissident who died in a suspicious car accident filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the former diplomat. The lawsuit alleges that Rocha shared information that empowered Cuba's communist leaders to eliminate a key rival, as per The Guardian.
