DATE=10/9/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-239997
TITLE=CUBA SPIES / MIAMI (S & L)
BYLINE=MICHAEL BOWMAN
DATELINE=MIAMI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  THREE MORE SUSPECTED CUBAN SPIES, ARRESTED LAST MONTH IN 
SOUTH FLORIDA, HAVE PLEADED GUILTY TO SERVING THE GOVERNMENT OF 
PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO AS UNREGISTERED AGENTS IN THE UNITED 
STATES.  V-O-A'S MICHAEL BOWMAN REPORTS FROM MIAMI, A TOTAL OF 
FIVE SUSPECTS HAVE NOW ENTERED INTO PLEA BARGAINING ARRANGEMENTS 
WITH U-S PROSECUTORS THAT, UNDER FEDERAL SENTENCING GUIDELINES, 
WOULD LIKELY RESULT IN TWO TO THREE YEARS OF JAIL TIME.

TEXT: THIRTY-NINE YEAR OLD ALEJANDRO ALONSO, JOSEPH SANTOS AND 
HIS WIFE, AMARYLIS, ARE THE LATEST TO PLEAD GUILTY TO ESPIONAGE- 
RELATED CHARGES IN U-S DISTRICT COURT.

PROSECUTORS ARE DECLINING TO COMMENT ON THE MATTER.  BUT ATTORNEY
PAUL MCKENNA, WHO REPRESENTS ONE OF THE SUSPECTS YET TO ENTER A 
PLEA, SAYS THERE IS REASON TO DOUBT THE STRENGTH OF THE 
GOVERNMENT'S CASE AGAINST THE 10 DEFENDANTS.

                        // MCKENNA ACT //

         NORMALLY, IF THEY (PROSECUTORS) HAVE AN IRON-CLAD 
         (STRONG) CASE, THEY DON'T NECESSARILY SEEK OUT 
         COOPERATING WITNESSES.  PERHAPS THIS IS AN INDICATION 
         THAT THEIR CASE IS NOT AS IRON-CLAD AS THEY HAD 
         REPRESENTED.

                          // END ACT //

FEDERAL OFFICIALS SAY THE ALLEGED SPY RING SOUGHT TO INFILTRATE 
CUBAN EXILE GROUPS AND MONITOR SOUTH FLORIDA FACILITIES, 
INCLUDING U-S MILITARY BASES.

                     // REST OPT FOR LONG //

ATTORNEY PAUL MCKENNA SAYS PROSECUTORS HAVE YET TO UNVEIL ANY 
EVIDENCE THEY MAY POSSESS AGAINST THE ALLEGED CUBAN AGENTS.

                        // MCKENNA ACT //

         WE HAVE NOT SEEN SO MUCH AS ONE PIECE OF PAPER ON THEIR 
         CASE.  THEY ARE DELAYING ALL THE DISCOVERY, ALL THE 
         EVIDENCE, FOR OUR REVIEW UNTIL SUCH TIME AS A JUDGE 
         LIFTS A PROTECTIVE ORDER.

                          // END ACT //

WEDNESDAY, NILO HERNANDEZ AND HIS WIFE, LINDA, BECAME THE FIRST 
DEFENDANTS TO ENTER INTO A PLEA BARGAINING ARRANGEMENT WITH 
PROSECUTORS.  WHEN THE CASE GOES TO TRIAL, THOSE WHO PLEAD GUILTY
IN RETURN FOR A MORE-LENIENT SENTENCE WILL LIKELY BE CALLED ON TO
TESTIFY AGAINST ANY REMAINING DEFENDANTS WHO MAINTAIN THEIR 
INNOCENCE.

U-S OFFICIALS SAY THE ROUND-UP OF THE ALLEGED TEN-MEMBER SPY RING
REPRESENTED THE LARGEST CRACKDOWN ON CUBAN ESPIONAGE IN THE 
UNITED STATES SINCE CUBA'S 1959 REVOLUTION. (SIGNED)

NEB/MCB/JO

09-Oct-98 3:18 PM EDT (1918 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.