Former U.S. ambassador to Bolivia, Manuel Rocha, has been apprehended in Miami as part of an ongoing FBI counterintelligence investigation. The prominent diplomat is alleged to have worked covertly as an agent for the Cuban government. Rocha’s arrest followed the filing of a criminal complaint against him, and further information regarding the case is expected to be divulged at his court appearance on Monday.
According to reports, Rocha is facing allegations of advancing the interests of the Cuban government without adhering to the requirement of registering with the U.S. Justice Department, as mandated by federal law. Having served for 25 years as a diplomat across different administrations, Rocha’s career was predominantly during the Cold War period in Latin America. Born in Colombia, he obtained degrees from prestigious institutions including Yale, Harvard, and Georgetown prior to his appointment to the foreign service in 1981. Throughout his diplomatic tenure, Rocha held various positions in countries such as Bolivia, Argentina, and Cuba.
During his ambassadorship in Bolivia, Rocha directly interfered in the nation’s presidential race in 2002 by cautioning that the U.S. would cease assistance if former coca grower Evo Morales were elected. Following his retirement from the State Department, Rocha embarked on a second career in the business sector, assuming roles at notable companies like XCoal, Clover Leaf Capital, Foley & Lardner, and Spanish public relations firms, Llorente & Cuenca.
Although the law firm Foley & Lardner confirmed Rocha’s departure in August, representative responses from XCoal and Clover Leaf Capital are still pending. The Associated Press contacted Rocha’s wife, Karla Wittkop Rocha, who declined to provide any comments regarding the situation.
As this investigative case unfolds, the public eagerly awaits Monday’s court appearance, which will likely shed further light on the extent of Rocha’s alleged covert activities on behalf of the Cuban government.
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