Manuel Rocha, a former U.S. ambassador to Bolivia, has been apprehended by the FBI as a part of a long-standing counterintelligence investigation.
The allegations towards him level to his clandestine involvement as an agent for the Cuban authorities, in line with sources near the state of affairs, who spoke to The Related Press (AP) on situation of anonymity as a result of ongoing federal investigation.
Manuel Rocha’s arrest happened in Miami final Friday on the idea of a prison grievance.
Additional particulars in regards to the case are anticipated to floor throughout a courtroom look on Monday.
Sources counsel that the Justice Division’s case accuses Rocha of actively advancing the pursuits of the Cuban authorities inside the USA.
This accusation implicates him in a violation of federal regulation, which mandates people engaged in political actions on behalf of overseas governments or entities throughout the U.S. to register with the Justice Division.
Latest years have witnessed heightened scrutiny and prison enforcement concerning illicit overseas lobbying.
A distinguished profession
Stories are that Rocha’s diplomatic profession spanned 25 years, encompassing service below each Democratic and Republican administrations, predominantly in Latin America in the course of the Chilly Conflict period.
Assignments included a posting on the U.S. Pursuits Part in Cuba, a interval marked by the absence of full diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Fidel Castro’s communist authorities.
Born in Colombia, Rocha grew up in New York Metropolis. He pursued a collection of liberal arts levels from Yale, Harvard, and Georgetown earlier than becoming a member of the overseas service in 1981.
Rocha’s diplomatic profession
Rocha served as the highest U.S. diplomat in Argentina from 1997 to 2000, throughout a tumultuous interval of financial instability and political upheaval.
His intervention in Bolivia’s 2002 presidential race, the place he warned towards electing former coca grower Evo Morales, sparked controversy and backlash.
This transfer was seen as an try to safeguard U.S. affect within the area.
Morales finally triumphed and later expelled Roch’’s successor for inciting “civil battle.”
Rocha’s diplomatic journey additionally included assignments in Italy, Honduras, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic, in addition to a task as a Latin America professional for the Nationwide Safety Council.
Retirement and second profession
Following his retirement from the State Division, Rocha launched into a second profession in enterprise.
In accordance with AP, he assumed the function of president at a gold mine within the Dominican Republic, partly owned by Canada’s Barrick Gold.
In current occasions, he held senior positions at varied organizations, together with XCoal, a Pennsylvania-based coal exporter; Clover Leaf Capital, an organization facilitating mergers within the hashish trade; regulation agency Foley & Lardner; and Spanish public relations agency Llorente & Cuenca.
