Former US diplomat Manuel Rocha has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison after admitting to working as a secret agent for Cuba for over 40 years. Rocha, who served on the National Security Council and as US ambassador to Bolivia, pleaded guilty to charges of conspiring to act as an agent of a foreign government and acting as an agent of a foreign government without notice. The Justice Department described his actions as one of the most serious infiltrations of the US government in history. During an undercover operation conducted by an FBI agent posing as a Cuban spy, Rocha referred to the United States as 'the enemy' and praised Fidel Castro. He gained access to national secrets and allegedly shared classified information with Cuban intelligence operatives. Rocha was ordered to pay $500,000, forfeit future pension payments, cooperate with the US government, and share details of his dealings with Cuba. He also agreed to work undercover for the US government if requested. This revelation sheds further light on the case of Manuel Rocha, the former US ambassador to Bolivia who was recently arrested in Miami on charges of secretly serving as an agent of Cuba's government. Rocha is accused of working to promote the Cuban government's interests without registering with the Justice Department, in violation of federal law. The details of the case are expected to be revealed in a court appearance. Rocha, who served under both Democratic and Republican administrations, had diplomatic postings in Latin America during the Cold War and intervened in the 2002 presidential race in Bolivia. After retiring from the State Department, Rocha had a second career in business, holding senior roles in various companies. The case is still under investigation, shedding light on the hidden world of espionage and international intrigue. US officials have said they may never know the full extent of Rocha's cooperation with Havana [1b0908a9] [d30d1778] [03520e61].
The US has condemned Cuba for imposing long jail sentences on protesters. The Cuban government sentenced 62 people to prison terms ranging from 7 to 33 years for their involvement in anti-government protests. The US State Department criticized the sentences as 'politically motivated' and called for the immediate release of all political prisoners. The protests in Cuba, which took place in July 2021, were sparked by food and medicine shortages, as well as frustration with the government's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. The US has expressed support for the Cuban people's right to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression [c5dc0374].
Manuel Chang, the ex-finance minister of Mozambique, has been convicted by a US jury in the 'tuna bonds' scandal that had a significant impact on the nation's economy. The conviction comes after a trial in the United States. The scandal involved fraudulent loans worth $2 billion that were used to finance maritime projects, including a tuna fishing fleet. The loans were not disclosed to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and led to a financial crisis in Mozambique. Manuel Chang was arrested in South Africa in 2018 and has been fighting extradition to the US. The conviction is a significant development in the case and could have implications for other individuals involved in the scandal [11239a0b] [c1460d75].