Manuel Rocha, Former US Ambassador Who Turned Out To Be Spy for Cuba, Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison

Manuel Rocha was once regarded as one of the most respected diplomats the US has had. However, he is now a convicted criminal after it was found that he was a spy for Cuba, with a federal court sentencing the former US Ambassador to Bolivia to 15 years in prison.

The 15-year sentence came after Rocha, who was once one of the US State Department's most trusted and respected diplomats to the Americas, pled guilty to two counts of "conspiring to act as an agent of a foreign government and conspiring to defraud the United States and acting as an agent of a foreign government without notice as required by law."

According to The Hill, he was sentenced to "the statutory maximum penalty" as his case was considered one of the highest breaches of national security in US history as Manuel Rocha operated as a Cuban spy for decades without the US government knowing anything despite the warning signs.

"Today's plea and sentencing brings to an end more than four decades of betrayal and deceit by the defendant," said Assistant Attorney General Matt Olsen of the Justice Department's National Security Division in a statement. "Rocha admitted to acting as an agent of the Cuban government at the same time he held numerous positions of trust in the U.S. government, a staggering betrayal of the American people and an acknowledgment that every oath he took to the United States was a lie."

Rocha was found out to be a spy after getting caught in a sting operation where he called the United States "the enemy" to an undercover FBI agent.

Judge Issues Scathing Remarks Against Manuel Rocha for Being a Cuban Spy

Rocha's betrayal has shocked the entire US Foreign Service and it was noted that his plea agreement still leaves many unanswered questions regarding his future.

The court also ordered Rocha to pay a $500,000 fine and to cooperate with authorities. However, this did not save Rocha from being berated by US District Court Judge Beth Bloom, who told the Cuban spy, "Your actions were a direct attack to our democracy and the safety of our citizens."

Rocha was given some time to address his actions, asking his friends and family for forgiveness before saying, "I take full responsibility and accept the penalty."

Judge Also Blasts Prosecutors on Other Possible Victims of Cuba Spy Manuel Rocha

The judge did not just scold Rocha but also the prosecutors, suggesting that they did not do enough to investigate possible victims. However, according to CNN, prosecutors just stated that the US government was his only victim.

Judge Bloom also asked prosecutors why they did not go for stripping Rocha of his citizenship, given that he pledged allegiance to the US during a naturalization ceremony in the 1970s while working for an enemy of the state. However, Assistant US Attorney Jonathan D. Stratton stated that "the government considered stripping his citizenship but prioritized that Rocha admit his guilt."

READ MORE: Ex-US Ambassador a Cuba Spy? Manuel Rocha Calls America 'The Enemy'

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Former U.S. ambassador to Bolivia Manuel Rocha to plead guilty - CBS Miami