After announcing the arrest of Víctor Manuel Rocha, former United States ambassador to Bolivia, the US government shared more details about the case, confirming that he is accused of having secretly worked as an agent for the Castro regime for several years.
According to a statement shared this Monday, December 4, Roche, 73 years old, is accused of multiple federal crimes for acting for four decades as a secret agent of the Cuban government, using his positions to obtain classified information.
Former U.S. Ambassador and National Security Council Official Charged with Secretly Acting as an Agent of the Cuban Government pic.twitter.com/N0kCmKfjZR
— National Security Division, U.S. Dept of Justice (@DOJNatSec) December 4, 2023
“This action exposes one of the most far-reaching and longest-lasting infiltrations of the United States government by a foreign agent,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland.
The statement notes that, for years, Roche sought and obtained positions within the US government that provided him access to non-public information and the ability to affect foreign policy.
“Those privileged to serve in the United States government receive tremendous trust from the public we serve. “Betraying that trust by falsely pledging loyalty while serving a foreign power is a crime that will be punished with the full force of the Department of Justice,” the prosecutor added.
Similarly, Christopher Wray, director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), stressed that American officials take an oath in which they commit to support and defend the Constitution, and that, “act as an agent of Cuba – a hostile foreign power – is a flagrant violation of that oath and betrays the trust of the people.”
The official emphasizes that the FBI will continue with actions to defend the United States from foreign governments that have the objective of harming the nation. Likewise, he indicated that they would find and hold accountable anyone who violates his oath, “no matter how long it takes.”
The statement indicates that Matthew G. Olsen, Deputy Attorney General of the National Security Division of the Department of Justice (DOJ), accused Rocha of abusing his position of trust in the US government to “promote the interests of a foreign power.” .
In turn, the FBI accusations indicate that Rocha was in charge of collecting intelligence against the United States, serving as an undercover agent of the Cuban General Intelligence Directorate.
For his mission, the former diplomat sought a position in the Department of State (DOS) between 1981 and 2002. Later, between 2006 and 2012, Rocha was an advisor to the Commander of the US Southern Command, whose area of responsibility includes the Island.
Among the charges against him are providing false and misleading information to the United States, as well as meeting with Cuban intelligence agents, something that was possible after making “false and misleading” statements to obtain travel documents.
According to information shared by US authorities, Rocha confessed to his years as an agent for the Cuban government during a covert operation between 2022 and 2023. During that time, an FBI agent posed as an undercover representative of the Directorate General of Cuban intelligence.
Said undercover agent told the former diplomat that he was a new undercover representative in Miami, who had the mission of establishing a new communication plan.
“Rocha answered ‘Yes’ and proceeded to engage in a long conversation during which he described and celebrated his activity as a Cuban intelligence agent,” the statement details.
During these meetings, Rocha on multiple occasions referred to the US as “the enemy” and to himself as “us” when speaking about Cuba. He also praised the figure of Fidel Castro, referring to him as “the Commander.”
Now, the former official faces an accusation of conspiring to act as an agent of a foreign government without prior notification to the Attorney General, as well as a similar charge, but with the use of a passport “obtained by false declaration.”
The investigation remains open and is under the responsibility of the FBI Field Office in Miami, which acts in collaboration with the Diplomatic Security Service of the Department of State and the FBI Field Office in Washington.
