A former diplomat from the State Department is facing charges from the Justice Department for allegedly working as a Cuban government agent in secret.
The 73-year-old Miami, Florida resident Victor Manuel Rocha is facing federal charges for allegedly supporting Cuba’s covert intelligence operations as an agent of the General Directorate of Intelligence.
“Rocha given the US false and misleading information to keep his covert mission going; met with Cuban intelligence agents outside the US; and made false and misleading statements to get travel documents,” the DOJ said.
In a recent encounter with an undercover FBI agent, Rocha allegedly confessed to having ties to the country’s government and called the United States “the enemy,” according to the Department of Justice.
Rocha was indicted on charges of conspiracy, operating as an agent of a foreign government, and using a passport obtained through a false declaration, according to the authorities. It is anticipated that Rocha will appear in Miami’s court on Monday.
In 1994, Rocha joined the National Security Council. From 2000 to 2002, she served as the U.S. ambassador to Bolivia.
Rocha’s moves follow the prosecution or investigation of other prominent American politicians for alleged inappropriate ties with foreign nations. Senate Minority Leader Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) faces charges of acting as an unregistered agent for Egypt, while the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) is looking into allegations that New York City Mayor Eric Adams collaborated with the Turkish government during his mayoral campaign of 2021.
“This action exposes one of the highest-reaching and longest-lasting infiltrations of the United States government by a foreign agent,” Attorney General Merrick Garland issued a statement.
