Victor Manuel Rocha, a former American diplomat who served as virtual ambassador to Argentina and other destinations, was sentenced to 15 years in prison in Miami for spying for the Cuban government and defrauding the US government. The case is considered one of the largest betrayals in the history of the country’s foreign service.
Rocha, 73, admitted to federal charges of conspiracy to act as an agent of a foreign government in court. His defense attorney indicated that he had reached an agreement and agreed to a sentence of 15 years in prison with three years of supervised release and $500,000 in fines.
Before the agreement, Rocha had declared his innocence, but after the arrangement, he pleaded guilty. He spent decades at the US State Department, serving in Buenos Aires and Bolivia before leaving diplomacy for private business.
Rocha’s arrest in Miami on December 1, after an FBI investigation, shocked American diplomacy. Attorney General Merrick Garland called it one of the longest-reaching infiltrations of the US government by a foreign agent. Rocha had high-level security clearances, giving him access to top-secret information.
The criminal complaint did not provide details on what information Rocha may have disclosed to Cuba or how it could have influenced US policy. The Foreign Agents Registration Act requires those working for foreign governments to notify the US Attorney General’s office.
Overall, Rocha’s case represents a significant breach of trust and national security, highlighting the risks associated with espionage within the diplomatic community.