A former official from the administration of former President Bill Clinton has recently been sentenced to 15 years in prison after being found guilty of spying for Communist Cuba for several decades. Victor Manuel Rocha, who served as a U.S. ambassador to Bolivia under Clinton’s appointment, was caught spying on behalf of Cuba for a period of 40 years.
Rocha admitted his guilt and pleaded guilty to the charges of working for Cuba’s spy service. Prosecutors described this case as the longest-running betrayal of the U.S. government in history. Initially, Rocha denied his guilt in February but eventually realized that the evidence against him was overwhelming. Consequently, he chose to take the easier route by pleading guilty. Despite the severity of his actions, Rocha received a relatively lenient sentence of 15 years in prison.
During the hearing, U.S. District Judge Beth Bloom expressed concern over the plea deal, as Rocha’s citizenship remained intact and there was no discussion about potential recourse for the victims. However, the prosecutors defended their decision, arguing that given Rocha’s age of 73, there is a high likelihood that he will spend the rest of his life in prison before his release day in 2039.
The plea agreement has been modified to incorporate compensation for any possible victims of Rocha’s surveillance operations. The issue regarding his nationality remains unresolved and is expected to be settled in an upcoming civil lawsuit.
David Newman, a senior official in national security at the Department of Justice, released a statement saying:
“For most of his life, Mr. Rocha lived a lie.
“While holding various senior positions in the U.S. government, he was secretly acting as the Cuban government’s agent.
“That is a staggering betrayal of the American people.”
Rocha’s infiltration as a double agent, spying on the United States for Cuba, remained undetected for almost fifty years. Initially joining the State Department in 1981, Rocha swiftly transitioned through various roles over the following twenty years.
It was during Bill Clinton’s presidency that Rocha’s ascent to ambassadorship occurred, raising concerns about the potential presence of other individuals with conflicting allegiances within the ranks. The FBI initiated an investigation into Rocha in 2022, shedding light on his covert activities.
During a meeting with an undercover agent, Rocha openly referred to the United States as “the enemy,” further exposing his true intentions. Additionally, Rocha admitted that the actions taken had significantly bolstered the Cuban Revolution.
“It has strengthened it immensely.”
