Former US diplomat sentenced to 15 years for years of espionage for Cuba

Court in the USA sentenced former American diplomat Victor Manuel Rocha to 15 years in prison for many years of espionage for Cuba.

Prosecutors say Rocha, now 73, secretly helped the Cuban Communist Party gather intelligence against Washington for more than forty years. He did this, including during his work at the US State Department from 1981 to 2002 – and even when he was a member of the White House National Security Council for one year.

Rocha was charged in December 2023. At the last hearing yesterday, April 12, he admitted guilt as part of a court deal. According to the agreement, Rocha must reveal the details of his cooperation with Cuban intelligence. However, American officials do not expect to learn the full extent of Rocha’s spying on Havana.