Former US Diplomat to Plead Guilty in Cuban Spy Case

MIAMI (AP) - In a surprising turn of events, former career U.S. diplomat Manuel Rocha has informed a federal judge of his intention to plead guilty to charges of working as a secret agent for communist Cuba for several decades. Prosecutors have deemed this case as one of the most audacious betrayals in the history of the U.S. foreign service.

The 73-year-old Rocha's downfall may result in a lengthy prison sentence, as he has admitted to federal charges of conspiring to act as a foreign government's agent. Although exact details of the agreed-upon sentence have not been revealed, Rocha is scheduled to return to court on April 12 for his likely sentencing.

During a brief hearing, Rocha, shackled at the hands and ankles, expressed his agreement to change his plea to guilty when questioned by U.S. District Court Judge Beth Bloom. In exchange, prosecutors have agreed to drop 13 counts, including wire fraud and making false statements.

Despite these developments, the hearing shed no new light on the extent of Rocha's assistance to Cuba during his two-decade tenure at the State Department. He held notable positions such as ambassador to Bolivia and key roles in Argentina, Mexico, the White House, and the U.S. Interests Section in Havana.

After leaving government service, Rocha worked as a special adviser to the commander of the U.S. Southern Command. More recently, he adopted a tough stance as a supporter of Donald Trump and a Cuba hardliner. Friends and prosecutors claim that this persona was merely a front to conceal Rocha's true allegiances.

Peter Lapp, who supervised FBI counterintelligence against Cuba from 1998 to 2005, believes that the swift resolution of the case benefits not only Rocha but also the government. The plea deal will provide valuable insights into Cuba's infiltration of U.S. foreign policy circles.

Typically, defendants in counterintelligence cases are charged with espionage. However, Rocha faced lesser charges of acting as a foreign agent, which carry maximum prison terms ranging from five to ten years. This lowered the legal threshold, facilitating the agreement between the prosecutors and Rocha.

Lapp stated, "It's a win-win for both sides. He gets a significant payoff and the chance to see his family again, and the U.S. will be able to conduct a full damage assessment that it wouldn't be able to do without his cooperation."

Rocha's arrest took place in December when the FBI apprehended him at his Miami residence. Allegations against him include engaging in clandestine activities on Cuba's behalf since he joined the U.S. foreign service in 1981. These activities allegedly involved meetings with Cuban intelligence operatives and providing false information to U.S. government officials about his contacts.

Court records reveal that Rocha made incriminating statements in recorded conversations with an undercover FBI agent posing as a Cuban intelligence operative. In these conversations, he praised the late Cuban leader Fidel Castro as "Comandante," referred to the U.S. as the "enemy," and boasted about his over 40 years of service as a Cuban mole within U.S. foreign policy circles.

As the legal proceedings progress, the true extent of Rocha's actions and the ramifications of his long-term espionage activities are expected to come to light.