Former US Ambassador to Bolivia Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Espionage
In a shocking turn of events, Victor Manuel Rocha, a former career diplomat who once served as the US ambassador to Bolivia, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for his clandestine activities as an agent for Cuba.
Prosecutors revealed that Rocha had been passing sensitive information to the Cuban government for over 40 years, making this espionage case one of the most high-profile conflicts between the US and Cuba.
After initially pleading not guilty, Rocha changed his plea in a Miami court in February, opting to avoid a trial. He appeared in court dressed in a beige jail uniform and solemnly declared, “I plead guilty.”
Aside from the prison sentence, Rocha has also been ordered to pay a hefty $500,000 fine and cooperate with authorities in the ongoing investigation.
US Attorney General Merrick Garland condemned Rocha’s actions as “one of the highest-reaching and longest-lasting infiltrations of the US government by a foreign agent.”
Rocha, who is Colombian-born and a graduate of Yale and Harvard, held various diplomatic positions in countries like Argentina, Honduras, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic, in addition to serving on the National Security Council.
Following his diplomatic tenure, Rocha worked as a consultant for the US military’s Southern Command, overseeing operations in Latin America and the Caribbean, including Cuba.
The uncovering of Rocha’s espionage activities began in November 2022 when an undercover FBI agent contacted him via WhatsApp, posing as a representative of Cuba’s intelligence service.
During subsequent meetings, Rocha divulged details of his past espionage work for Cuba, referring to himself and the Cuban regime as “we” and expressing his unwavering loyalty to their cause.
The tense relationship between the US and Cuba dates back to the 1959 revolution led by Fidel Castro, which led to a trade embargo and ongoing animosity between the two nations.
Former CIA counter-intelligence chief James Olson described Rocha as a “traitor” and expressed his disdain for the success of Cuba’s intelligence service in infiltrating US operations over the years.
“He betrayed our country,” Olson stated. “I don’t think he’s going to see the light of day again.”
