DATE=5/20/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-249638
TITLE=FLORIDA / CUBAN SPIES (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=MICHAEL HIBBLEN
DATELINE=MIAMI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  THREE MEN IN (THE SOUTHERN U-S STATE OF) FLORIDA WHO HAVE
BEEN CHARGED WITH SPYING FOR CUBA SAY THEY ARE INNOCENT, AND ARE 
PLEADING  NOT  GUILTY TO A FEDERAL CRIMINAL CONSPIRACY 
INDICTMENT.  U-S OFFICIALS SAY THEY ARE BRINGING NEW CHARGES 
AGAINST SOME OF THE 14 PEOPLE NAMED IN THE CASE.  REPORTER 
MICHAEL HIBBLEN HAS MORE FROM MIAMI.

TEXT:  PROSECUTORS SAY LUIS MEDINA, RENE GONZALEZ AND REUBEN 
CAMPA WERE PART OF A SPY TEAM THAT INFILTRATED CUBAN EXILE GROUPS
IN SOUTH FLORIDA OPPOSED TO CUBAN PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO. 

THEY ARE ALSO ACCUSED OF INFILTRATING U-S MILITARY INTELLIGENCE 
(AT SOUTHERN COMMAND HEADQUARTERS IN MIAMI). 

BUT THE THREE DEFENDANTS DENY THEY ARE SPIES.  THEY PLEADED  NOT 
GUILTY TO CONSPIRACY CHARGES (THURSDAY) IN U-S FEDERAL COURT.

ALICIA VALLE, WITH THE U-S ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IN MIAMI, SAYS 
SEVERAL NEW CHARGES HAVE BEEN ADDED TO THE FEDERAL INDICTMENT IN 
THE CASE, INCLUDING ONE AGAINST ANOTHER DEFENDANT, GERALDO 
HERNANDEZ.

                     /// FIRST VALLE ACT ///

         HE IS CHARGED IN COUNT THREE WITH CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT 
         MURDER, REGARDING THE FEDRUARY 24, 1996, SHOOT-DOWN OF 
         THE TWO CUBAN "BROTHERS TO THE RESCUE" AIRPLANES.

                         /// END ACT ///

IN THAT INCIDENT, THE CUBAN EXILE GROUP'S PLANES WERE SHOT DOWN 
BY CUBAN JETS.  PROSECUTORS ALLEGE MR. HERNANDEZ TIPPED OFF CUBAN
AUTHORITIES ABOUT THE TRIP -- WHICH HE DENIES.

FOUR OTHER ALLEGED MEMBERS OF THE SPY RING ARE STILL ON THE 
LOOSE, INCLUDING FORMER "BROTHERS TO THE RESCUE" MEMBER JUAN 
PABLO ROQUE.  MS. VALLE ALLEGES MR. ROQUE ESTABLISHED A NORMAL 
LIFE IN SOUTH FLORIDA WHILE FEEDING INFORMATION TO THE CUBAN 
GOVERNMENT.

                    /// SECOND VALLE ACT ///

         IN FACT HE BECAME VERY ACTIVE IN "BROTHERS TO THE 
         RESCUE," MARRIED A WIFE HERE, AND ONE DAY BEFORE THE 
         SHOOT-DOWN OF THE "BROTHERS TO THE RESCUE" PLANES IN 
         CUBA HE DISAPPEARED, ONLY TO RESURFACE IN CUBA A FEW 
         DAYS AFTER THE SHOOT-DOWN.

                         /// END ACT ///

FIVE OTHER DEFENDANTS IN THIS CASE HAVE PLEADED GUILTY AND ARE 
COOPERATING WITH U-S AUTHORITIES.  MILITARY OFFICIALS SAY THE 
GROUP DID  NOT  GET ANY CRITICAL U-S MILITARY INFORMATION.   
(SIGNED)

NEB/MH/WTW

20-May-99 9:10 PM EDT (0110 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.