DATE=2/24/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CUBA SPY - BAIL (S & L)
NUMBER=2-259533
BYLINE=MICHAEL BOWMAN
DATELINE=MIAMI
CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO:  In Miami, an alleged Cuban spy arrested last 
week has been denied bail while facing charges of 
espionage.  V-O-A's Michael Bowman has details

TEXT:  Miami Federal Magistrate Judge Barry Garber has 
denied bail for former U-S Immigration supervisor 
Mariano Faget [fah-`het], saying there is a risk he 
might flee if released from jail.  Mr. Faget was 
arrested after an F-B-I sting operation caught him 
allegedly passing secrets to a New York businessman 
with ties to the Cuban Government.

In court, the Cuba-born Mr. Faget expressed a desire 
to clear his name, stating he has never sympathized 
with communism.

The case has further strained the thorny relations 
between Washington and Havana.  Saturday, the State 
Department gave a Cuban diplomat seven days to vacate 
the Cuban Interests Section in Washington.  But Cuba 
has ordered the diplomat to remain in the United 
States and challenge accusations of espionage.

            ///  REST OPT FOR LONG  ///

Two weeks ago F-B-I agents told Mr. Faget a high-
ranking Cuban official wanted to defect.  Shortly 
thereafter, says the F-B-I, he passed this information 
on to the New York businessman. 

Mr. Faget has worked for the U-S Immigration and 
Naturalization Service for more than 30 years, and was 
weeks away from possible retirement when arrested.

This is not the first case of alleged Cuban espionage 
in South Florida.  Two convicted spies were sentenced 
Thursday to seven years in prison.  Linda and Nilo 
Hernandez were part of a ten-member Cuban spy ring 
that operated in the Miami area, infiltrating Cuban 
exile organizations and U-S military installations.  
They were arrested in late 1998.  (Signed)

NEB/MCB/ENE/gm/latam



24-Feb-2000 16:30 PM EDT (24-Feb-2000 2130 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.