A former career U.S. diplomat, Victor Manuel Rocha, admitted to spying for Cuba for decades and told a federal judge in Miami that he intends to plead guilty to charges of conspiring to act as an agent of a foreign government. The case, described as one of the most brazen betrayals in the history of the U.S. foreign service, took an unexpected turn as Rocha, 73, agreed to plead guilty to federal counts in exchange for an agreed-upon sentence. The plea deal includes dropping 13 counts, including wire fraud and making false statements.

Rocha, who had a distinguished career in the U.S. foreign service with postings in countries like Bolivia and Mexico, was well-known in Miami's elite circles for his aristocratic demeanor. However, it was revealed that he had been working as a Cuban agent since at least 1981, meeting with Cuban intelligence operatives and providing false information to U.S. government officials about his contacts.

The abrupt plea deal drew criticism from the Cuban exile community, with some legal observers expressing concern that it amounted to a lenient punishment for someone who had put American lives at risk by spying for a foreign adversary. The case also shed light on missed red flags over the years, including a tip received in 2006 that Rocha was working as a double agent, which was never pursued.

Rocha's decision to plead guilty came after the widow of a prominent Cuban dissident killed in a mysterious car crash filed a wrongful death lawsuit against him, accusing him of sharing intelligence that emboldened Cuba's communist leaders to assassinate her husband. The case raised questions about the extent of damage caused by Rocha's espionage activities and the potential implications for U.S. national security.