Former US Ambassador to Bolivia to Plead Guilty in Cuban Spy Case

A former US ambassador has agreed to plead guilty to charges of spying for Cuba, ending a decades-long scheme. Manuel Rocha, 73, will admit to acting as an agent of a foreign government in exchange for dropping several other criminal counts against him. The maximum sentence he faces is between five to ten years in prison, with the specific terms to be determined at a hearing in April. The Justice Department alleges that Rocha worked as a secret agent for Cuba’s intelligence agency since 1981 while holding key positions in various US establishments, including the State Department. Despite portraying himself as anti-Cuba, Rocha was arrested following meetings with undercover FBI agents posing as Cuban intelligence officials. The extent of information Rocha shared or its impact on US policy remains undisclosed. Attorney General Merrick Garland labeled Rocha’s actions as one of the lengthiest infiltrations by a foreign agent in US history, drawing criticism from other officials who view the plea deal unfavorably.