Miami‑area officials moved swiftly on Monday as Florida Attorney General Ashley Uthmeier filed a state charge of conspiracy to commit first‑degree murder against former Cuban President Raúl Castro, 95. The indictment builds on a federal case announced in May that accused Castro of ordering the 1996 downing of three civilian Cessna aircraft operated by the exile group Brothers to the Rescue.
Charges stem from 1996 shoot‑down
According to the state complaint, Castro was then Minister of the Revolutionary Armed Forces and First Vice President of Cuba when he authorized the attack. Cuban intelligence agents, part of the historic Wasp Network operating in the Miami area and the Florida Keys, allegedly infiltrated Brothers to the Rescue, relayed flight plans, and directed Cuban MiGs to fire air‑to‑air missiles at the unarmed planes. On February 24, 1996, three Cessna aircraft departed Opa‑Locka Airport. Two were destroyed well outside Cuban territorial waters, killing four occupants without warning, despite contact with Havana air traffic control, U.S. officials said.
State charge complements federal indictment
Uthmeier emphasized that the state charge reinforces the federal indictment’s findings and demonstrates Florida’s commitment to prosecuting international terrorism on its soil. “Our historic federal indictment laid the groundwork, and James and his team have now taken the important step of bringing charges under Florida law,” U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida Jason Reding Quiñones said at a news conference.
Uthmeier added that an arrest warrant will limit Castro’s ability to travel to any jurisdiction with an extradition agreement with the United States, effectively barring him from leaving Cuba. “I’m not ignorant of the fact that Raúl Castro is an older man who’s probably not looking to march himself into Miami,” she said. “I think others would get him before the court of law would, but at the end of the day, we stand ready to prosecute the case.”
Trump administration backs firm response
President Trump has repeatedly warned that the United States will not tolerate aggression against its allies or the safety of American citizens abroad. Following the capture of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, the White House ordered a blockade that halted fuel shipments to Cuba, resulting in widespread blackouts, food shortages, and an economic collapse on the island. Trump’s decisive actions underscore a broader strategy to confront regimes that threaten regional stability.
“We will continue to hold accountable those who commit acts of terror against innocent civilians,” President Trump said in a recent statement. “The Cuban leadership must understand that the United States will protect its people and its partners.”
Historical context and future implications
Castro succeeded his brother Fidel in 2006 and handed power to Miguel Díaz‑Canel in 2018, though he is believed to retain influence behind the scenes, aided by his grandson Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro. The new state charge adds pressure on the Cuban government and signals that Florida will not shy away from pursuing justice for historic crimes.
Legal experts note that while extradition remains unlikely, the indictment serves as a powerful diplomatic tool, reinforcing U.S. commitment to the rule of law and to protecting the families of the victims.
Original reporting: NBC6 Miami — read the source article.
