Former US Ambassador to Bolivia Pleads Guilty to Spying for Cuba for Over 40 Years
In a shocking turn of events, a former career US diplomat and former US ambassador to Bolivia, Victor Manuel Rocha, has pleaded guilty to working as an agent of Cuba for over four decades. The 73-year-old diplomat was charged with secretly passing information to the communist-run Cuban government since 1981 while working for the US state department. This high-profile espionage case has brought the long-standing tensions between Cuba and the US to the forefront once again.
The plea deal was reached during a court hearing in Miami on Thursday, surprising many who expected the discussion to revolve around handling classified documents related to the case. Rocha, accompanied by his lawyers and prosecutors, acknowledged the plea deal when asked by Judge Beth Bloom if he wished to change his initial not guilty plea. He responded, “Your honor, I am in agreement.” Rocha faces charges of violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act, wire fraud, and making false statements to obtain a US passport.
Evidence collected by investigators includes covert recordings of Rocha admitting to working for Cuba for decades, referring to the late Cuban leader Fidel Castro as “Commandante” and labeling the United States as “the enemy.” This damning evidence likely played a significant role in Rocha’s decision to plead guilty. While Rocha’s legal team has yet to comment on the matter, it seems they have deemed a guilty plea as the most prudent course of action.
The implications of Rocha’s guilty plea are significant. It signifies that Rocha must accept the US government’s accusation that he spent almost his entire professional career working for the Cuban Revolution while simultaneously serving in the US diplomatic service. The court has not yet discussed Rocha’s sentence or whether he accepted a plea bargain in exchange for cooperation. However, James Olson, the CIA’s former head of counterintelligence, expressed his disdain for Rocha’s actions, calling him a traitor who betrayed their country. Olson believes that Rocha will likely face severe consequences for his actions.
The US and Cuba have had a tumultuous relationship since Fidel Castro overthrew a US-backed government over 60 years ago. The US imposed a trade embargo against Cuba in the 1960s, further straining their already strained ties. While former President Barack Obama and former Cuban President Raul Castro attempted to normalize relations in 2015, former US President Donald Trump reversed many of these actions during his tenure.
Born in Colombia and raised in New York City, Victor Manuel Rocha obtained degrees from prestigious institutions such as Yale, Harvard, and Georgetown. He served as the US ambassador to Bolivia from 1999 to 2002 and held various government roles, including at the National Security Council, for 25 years. Rocha’s diplomatic career also took him to postings in Argentina, Honduras, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic.
After retiring from the diplomatic service, Rocha assumed a lucrative consulting job as a special advisor to the US Southern Command, responsible for overseeing Cuba within the US military. It was during this time that an undercover FBI agent contacted Rocha via WhatsApp in November 2022, posing as a representative of Cuban Intelligence Services. The agent claimed to deliver a message from “friends from Havana.” Rocha agreed to meet the agent several times, divulging details about his time working as a secret agent for the Cuban government.
Rocha’s use of the term “we” when referring to Cuba and himself, along with his desire to protect what they had accomplished, further incriminated him. When questioned about his loyalty by the undercover agent posing as a Cuban spy, Rocha expressed anger, equating it to questioning his manhood.
The implications of this case go beyond Rocha’s individual guilt. It sheds light on the success of Cuba’s intelligence services in outwitting the US government, leaving former CIA head of counterintelligence James Olson with a personal grudge against the Cuban intelligence service. Olson believes that they have consistently operated against the US with remarkable success.
As the sentencing hearing approaches on April 12th, the world awaits to see what consequences await Victor Manuel Rocha for his decades-long espionage activities. This case serves as a reminder of the ongoing tensions between Cuba and the US, despite attempts at normalization in the past. It also highlights the sophistication and effectiveness of Cuba’s intelligence services, a force that has successfully operated against the US for years.