In a startling revelation, former U.S. Ambassador in Bolivia, Manuel Rocha, is facing allegations in a federal court of working as a covert foreign agent for Cuba, according to court documents that were unsealed on Monday and deemed non-cooperative.
The affidavit states that the 73-year-old ex-diplomat Rocha secretly supported a clandestine mission by Cuba’s intelligence agency, known as the Intelligence Directorate, against both the Republic of Cuba and the United States. Rocha served as the American ambassador in Bolivia from 2000 to 2002 and as the Deputy Principal Officer of the U.S. Interests Section in Cuba during the 1990s.
During several meetings with an undercover FBI agent, identified as a member of Cuba’s Intelligence Directorate, Rocha repeatedly referred to the United States as an “enemy” and praised the revolutionary and political figures such as Fidel Castro, according to court documents.
The affidavit suggests that Rocha’s involvement may be linked to an incident in Havana when Cuba shot down two unarmed aircraft belonging to the Brothers to the Rescue, a group opposing Castro’s government in the U.S., resulting in the death of four individuals.
In the court documents, it is alleged that Cuba has been recruiting individuals, including officials from the U.S. government, for years to assist in gathering intelligence for the Intelligence Directorate.
Rocha, identified as a former Foreign Service officer, allegedly had “unauthorized” access to “sensitive” non-governmental information during his tenure at the State Department.
Rocha is now facing three federal charges, including working as an illegal agent for a foreign government. He has been apprehended, and it is expected that he will appear in federal court in Miami today.
As of now, Rocha’s lawyer has not submitted any formal requests or statements to the public domain, and the FBI’s secret officer is in contact with Rocha.
According to the court documents, in November 2022, a secret FBI agent contacted Rocha via WhatsApp, informing him of an ongoing investigation into Rocha’s alleged covert activities. The agent stated, “Your friends in Havana have a message for you. It’s related to a sensitive matter.”
Rocha responded, “I don’t understand, but you can call me,” leading to a meeting between the former ambassador and the undercover agent in Miami.
During their meeting, Rocha took extensive precautions to ensure non-detection, including choosing a long route for their encounter and insisting on talking only with “low-level employees” in a “food court” to avoid any possibility of being seen.
In a subsequent meeting, Rocha revealed that he had secured employment in the State Department and described the process as “slow but systematic.” He emphasized that he understood how to navigate the situation and that it was a lengthy but orderly process.
The court documents also highlight Rocha’s pride in his decades-long work for Cuba’s government, claiming he had strengthened the revolution over the past 40 years. He expressed regret for the blows against the “enemy” and asserted that he had overcome the challenges posed by the current revolution.
At the time of his arrest, Rocha was working as a Senior International Business Advisor at the consulting firm LLYC USA. The firm, LLYC, has stated that Rocha is no longer affiliated with them and will fully cooperate with authorities if necessary.
This shocking revelation raises serious questions about the extent of covert operations and foreign influence within the U.S. government, with Rocha’s case bringing to light the complexities and potential risks associated with such activities.
(News Agency)