A former US diplomat has stated to a federal judge that he intends to confess his guilt to charges of being a covert agent for communist Cuba for several decades. This comes as a surprise and fast resolution to the prosecutors who deemed the case to be one of the most blatant betrayals in the history of the US foreign service.
Manuel Rocha’s stunning fall from grace could culminate in a lengthy prison term after the 73-year-old said he would admit to federal counts of conspiring to act as an agent of a foreign government.
The plea deal between Prosecutors and Rocha’s lawyer includes a predetermined sentence, however, specific details were not revealed in court on Thursday. Rocha is expected to return to court on April 12 for his sentencing.
Rocha, who was restrained by cuffs on his hands and ankles, stated that he was in accord with the decision during his hearing with US district court judge Beth Bloom. The prosecutors also reached an agreement to dismiss 13 charges, such as wire fraud and lying, in return.
The short court session offered no additional information on the unresolved matter surrounding Rocha’s detainment in December: what was his involvement with assisting Cuba during his twenty years at the state department? This period encompassed his roles as ambassador to Bolivia, high-ranking positions in Argentina and Mexico, as well as serving at the White House and US Interests Section in Havana.
His career after leaving government also involved serving as a special advisor to the leader of the US Southern Command and more recently as a vocal supporter of Donald Trump and hard stance against Cuba. According to those who knew him, Rocha used this persona to conceal his true loyalties.
According to Peter Lapp, who supervised FBI’s efforts against Cuba from 1998 to 2005, quickly resolving this case has advantages for both the elderly Rocha and the government. It can provide valuable insights into Cuba’s influence on US foreign policy circles.
In counterintelligence situations, the accused is usually charged with espionage. However, Rocha faced accusations of being a foreign agent, which have shorter maximum sentences, allowing both the prosecution and Rocha to potentially make a deal.
Lapp, the head of the investigation on Ana Montes, the most senior American official found guilty of espionage for Cuba, stated, “This is a mutually beneficial situation for both parties. He will receive a substantial reward and the opportunity to reunite with his family, while the US will have the means to conduct a thorough damage evaluation which would not have been possible without his cooperation.”
The defendant has unique information that cannot be obtained from anyone else, he further stated.
Rocha was arrested by the FBI at his Miami home on allegations he engaged in “clandestine activity” on Cuba’s behalf since at least 1981 – the year he joined the US foreign service – including by meeting with Cuban intelligence operatives and providing false information to US government officials about his contacts.
According to court documents, Rocha confessed to an undercover FBI agent, who he believed was a Cuban intelligence official, and spoke highly of the deceased Cuban leader Fidel Castro. He referred to the US as the “enemy” and boasted about his 40 years as a Cuban spy within US foreign policy circles.
In one of several conversations that were secretly recorded, he was quoted as saying that what they had accomplished was immense, comparable to a grand slam.
Federal officials have provided limited information about Rocha’s actions in support of Cuba. The FBI and state department are currently conducting a private evaluation of the potential impact, which may extend over several years.
However, a recent investigation by the Associated Press revealed that numerous warning signs had been overlooked throughout the years.
In 2006, a prominent CIA agent received a warning about possible double agent activity by Rocha, but no further action was taken. Additionally, intelligence from 1987 suggested that Castro may have had a highly placed informant within the US government, possibly Rocha.
Rocha made the choice to confess to his crimes on Thursday, after the wife of a well-known Cuban activist who died in a suspicious car accident filed a lawsuit against him for causing her husband’s wrongful death. The lawsuit claims that Rocha provided information that empowered the leaders of Cuba’s communist regime to carry out the assassination of a major rival.
Source: theguardian.com
