This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-22304225
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Ex-US government worker Marta Rita Velazquez 'Cuban spy' | Ex-US government worker Marta Rita Velazquez 'Cuban spy' |
(35 minutes later) | |
A former US government employee has been accused of recruiting US citizens in sensitive national security posts to spy for the Cuban government. | A former US government employee has been accused of recruiting US citizens in sensitive national security posts to spy for the Cuban government. |
Marta Rita Velazquez, 55, worked for the state department between 1989-2002 and had top-secret clearance. | Marta Rita Velazquez, 55, worked for the state department between 1989-2002 and had top-secret clearance. |
Authorities say she fled the US in 2002 amid reports a spy she had recruited was co-operating with investigators. | Authorities say she fled the US in 2002 amid reports a spy she had recruited was co-operating with investigators. |
Ms Velazquez, who now lives in Sweden, is also accused of passing secret documents to the Cuban government. | Ms Velazquez, who now lives in Sweden, is also accused of passing secret documents to the Cuban government. |
If extradited, tried and convicted, she could face life in prison. | If extradited, tried and convicted, she could face life in prison. |
The charges stem in part from an earlier case against Ana Belen Montes, Ms Velazquez's alleged co-conspirator, who pleaded guilty in 2002 to spying on behalf of the Cuban government and is now serving a 25-year prison sentence in the US. | The charges stem in part from an earlier case against Ana Belen Montes, Ms Velazquez's alleged co-conspirator, who pleaded guilty in 2002 to spying on behalf of the Cuban government and is now serving a 25-year prison sentence in the US. |
According to an indictment unveiled by the US justice department, Ms Velazquez recruited Montes in 1984, introduced her to the Cuban Intelligence Service and then helped her obtain a job at the US Defense Intelligence Agency. Montes became the agency's senior analyst for Cuban affairs. | According to an indictment unveiled by the US justice department, Ms Velazquez recruited Montes in 1984, introduced her to the Cuban Intelligence Service and then helped her obtain a job at the US Defense Intelligence Agency. Montes became the agency's senior analyst for Cuban affairs. |
Ms Velazquez is also accused of passing on documents and information to Cuban intelligence officials on matters relating to US national defence. | Ms Velazquez is also accused of passing on documents and information to Cuban intelligence officials on matters relating to US national defence. |
The indictment against Ms Velazquez, who has also gone by the names Marta Rita Kviele and Barbara, was first returned by a grand jury in 2004 but was not unsealed until Thursday. | The indictment against Ms Velazquez, who has also gone by the names Marta Rita Kviele and Barbara, was first returned by a grand jury in 2004 but was not unsealed until Thursday. |
She was born in Puerto Rico in 1957 and studied at Princeton University, Georgetown Law Center and Johns Hopkins University, the charge sheet says. | She was born in Puerto Rico in 1957 and studied at Princeton University, Georgetown Law Center and Johns Hopkins University, the charge sheet says. |
Ms Velazquez developed a close friendship with Montes at Johns Hopkins, US authorities said. | |
As a federal employee, Ms Velazquez worked for the state department's development arm, the US Agency for International Development, held a top-security clearance and was posted to US embassies in Nicaragua and Guatemala. | As a federal employee, Ms Velazquez worked for the state department's development arm, the US Agency for International Development, held a top-security clearance and was posted to US embassies in Nicaragua and Guatemala. |
As it emerged that Montes had pleaded guilty to espionage and was co-operating with the US government, Ms Velazquez resigned her government job and left the US. | As it emerged that Montes had pleaded guilty to espionage and was co-operating with the US government, Ms Velazquez resigned her government job and left the US. |
The US has maintained a near total trade embargo against Cuba since 1962, but during his first term in office President Barack Obama relaxed restrictions on Cuban-Americans' travel to the island and raised the limit on the amount of money they could send to family members there. |