A former U.S. ambassador to Bolivia and a National Security Council member recently pled guilty to secretly acting as an agent for the government of Cuba for over four decades. Victor Manuel Rocha, who worked for communist Cuba in clandestine intelligence-gathering missions, was sentenced to 15 years in prison. Prosecutors dismissed over a dozen other charges in exchange for his guilty plea. Rocha served as U.S. Ambassador to Bolivia from 2000 to 2002 and on the National Security Council from 1994 to 1995.
U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida described Rocha’s actions as a betrayal of the United States. Rocha was found guilty of conspiring to act as an agent of a foreign government, conspiring to defraud the U.S., and acting as an agent of a foreign government without proper notice. The court imposed the maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, a $500,000 fine, three years of supervised release, and a special assessment. Rocha is required to cooperate with the U.S. government, including assisting with any damage assessment related to his work on behalf of Cuba.
Rocha, who worked for the State Department from 1981 to 2002, used his employment to obtain classified information and influence U.S. foreign policy. Later, he served as an advisor to the Commander of the U.S. Southern Command, whose area of responsibility includes Cuba. Rocha maintained his secret status by providing false and misleading information to the U.S., meeting with Cuban intelligence operatives outside the country, and making false statements to obtain travel documents.
Rocha was recorded praising Fidel Castro, calling him “comandante,” and labeling the U.S. as the enemy. He bragged about serving as a Cuban mole for over 40 years within U.S. foreign policy circles. Rocha boasted of the meticulous and disciplined nature of his efforts, claiming they had significantly strengthened the Cuban revolution. His activities were reported to have taken place over his 25-year diplomatic career, spanning Democratic and Republican administrations and focusing on Latin America during the Cold War.
The FBI’s Executive Assistant Director Larissa L. Knapp emphasized that Rocha’s actions were a betrayal of the U.S. despite taking an oath to defend the constitution. The FBI worked tirelessly to bring Rocha to justice and ensure that foreign intelligence services and their collaborators are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Rocha must relinquish all future retirement benefits from his State Department employment and any profits from a potential publication related to his criminal conduct or government service. The case serves as a warning to adversaries that the U.S. will vigorously pursue those who work against its interests.
