Former U.S. Diplomat Pleads Guilty to Working as Secret Agent for Cuba

SOURCE apnews.com
Former U.S. diplomat Manuel Rocha pleads guilty to working as a secret agent for communist Cuba, facing potential prison time. The case is seen as a significant betrayal in U.S. foreign service history.

Key Points

  • Rocha pleads guilty to conspiring to act as an agent of a foreign government
  • His post-government career included time as a special adviser to the U.S. Southern Command
  • Rocha's case did not involve espionage charges but acting as a foreign agent
  • Rocha arrested for engaging in clandestine activity for Cuba since 1981

Pros

  • Swift resolution to the case
  • Insight into Cuba's penetration of U.S. foreign policy circles

Cons

  • Brazen betrayal of U.S. foreign service
  • Potential lengthy prison term for Rocha