A former career diplomat, who previously served as the US ambassador to Bolivia, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for acting as a Cuban agent. Victor Manuel Rocha, 73, admitted to passing sensitive information to the Cuban government for over four decades. Rocha changed his plea to guilty in a Miami court in February, avoiding a trial. The case, described by US Attorney General Merrick Garland as one of the most significant and enduring infiltrations of the US government by a foreign agent, marks a high-profile espionage incident between the US and Cuba.
During his diplomatic tenure, Rocha served in various countries, including Argentina, Honduras, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic, as well as in roles within the National Security Council. After leaving diplomatic service, he worked as a consultant for the US military’s Southern Command, which oversees Latin America and the Caribbean, including Cuba.
The case unfolded when an undercover FBI agent contacted Rocha via WhatsApp in November 2022, claiming to represent Cuba’s intelligence service. Rocha disclosed past espionage activities during subsequent meetings, even expressing loyalty to the Cuban regime. This revelation shocked the US government, which has had a strained relationship with Cuba since Fidel Castro’s revolution in 1959 and subsequent trade embargo. Though efforts were made to normalize relations during the Obama administration, many of these initiatives were reversed under the Trump administration.