Manuel Rocha, a former U.S. ambassador to Bolivia, has been apprehended by the FBI as part of a long-standing counterintelligence investigation.
The allegations against him point to his clandestine involvement as an agent for the Cuban government, according to sources close to the situation, who spoke to The Associated Press (AP) on condition of anonymity due to the ongoing federal investigation.
Manuel Rocha’s arrest took place in Miami last Friday on the basis of a criminal complaint.
Further details about the case are expected to surface during a court appearance on Monday.
Promoting Cuban interests
Sources suggest that the Justice Department’s case accuses Rocha of actively advancing the interests of the Cuban government within the United States.
This accusation implicates him in a violation of federal law, which mandates individuals engaged in political activities on behalf of foreign governments or entities within the U.S. to register with the Justice Department.
Recent years have witnessed heightened scrutiny and criminal enforcement regarding illicit foreign lobbying.
A distinguished career
Reports are that Rocha’s diplomatic career spanned 25 years, encompassing service under both Democratic and Republican administrations, predominantly in Latin America during the Cold War era.
Assignments included a posting at the U.S. Interests Section in Cuba, a period marked by the absence of full diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Fidel Castro’s communist government.
Born in Colombia, Rocha grew up in New York City. He pursued a series of liberal arts degrees from Yale, Harvard, and Georgetown before joining the foreign service in 1981.
Rocha’s diplomatic career
Rocha served as the top U.S. diplomat in Argentina from 1997 to 2000, during a tumultuous period of economic instability and political upheaval.
His intervention in Bolivia’s 2002 presidential race, where he warned against electing former coca grower Evo Morales, sparked controversy and backlash.
This move was seen as an attempt to safeguard U.S. influence in the region.
Morales ultimately triumphed and later expelled Roch’’s successor for inciting “civil war.”
Rocha’s diplomatic journey also included assignments in Italy, Honduras, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic, as well as a role as a Latin America expert for the National Security Council.
Retirement and second career
Following his retirement from the State Department, Rocha embarked on a second career in business.
According to AP, he assumed the role of president at a gold mine in the Dominican Republic, partly owned by Canada’s Barrick Gold.
In recent times, he held senior positions at various organizations, including XCoal, a Pennsylvania-based coal exporter; Clover Leaf Capital, a company facilitating mergers in the cannabis industry; law firm Foley & Lardner; and Spanish public relations firm Llorente & Cuenca.
