{"id":1211,"date":"2026-05-20T19:37:03","date_gmt":"2026-05-20T19:37:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/orlandorelocationreport.com\/?p=1211"},"modified":"2026-05-20T19:37:03","modified_gmt":"2026-05-20T19:37:03","slug":"us-announces-charges-against-former-cuban-leader-raul-castro-in-1996-aircraft-shootdown","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/orlandorelocationreport.com\/?p=1211","title":{"rendered":"US announces charges against former Cuban leader Ra\u00fal Castro in 1996 aircraft shootdown"},"content":{"rendered":"

By JOSHUA GOODMAN and ALANNA DURKIN RICHER, Associated Press<\/strong><\/p>\n

MIAMI (AP) \u2014 Federal prosecutors on Wednesday\u00a0announced charges\u00a0against\u00a0former Cuban President Ra\u00fal Castro\u00a0in the 1996 downing of civilian planes flown by Miami-based exiles as the Trump administration escalated pressure on the island\u2019s socialist government.<\/p>

Read more Ex-UCF prof placed on diversion after physical altercation with kid on e-bike<\/a><\/p>\n

The indictment\u00a0was related to Castro\u2019s alleged role in the shootdown of two small planes operated by the exile group Brothers to the Rescue. Castro, now 94, was Cuba\u2019s defense minister\u00a0at the time. The charges included murder and destruction of an airplane.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor nearly 30 years, the families of four murdered Americans have waited for justice,\u201d acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said in Miami at a ceremony to honor those killed. \u201cThey were unarmed civilians and were flying humanitarian missions for the rescue and protection of people fleeing oppression across the Florida straits.\u201d<\/p>\n

Asked to what lengths American authorities would go to bring Castro to face charges in the U.S., Blanche said: \u201cThere was a warrant issued for his arrest. So we expect that he will show up here, by his own will or by another way.\u201d<\/p>\n

The federal government, he said, indicts people outside the United States \u201call the time\u201d and uses a variety of methods to bring them to justice.<\/p>\n

A grand jury in Miami returned the indictment in late April before it was unsealed Wednesday, Blanche said. Five other people were also charged, including three Cuban military pilots.<\/p>\n

The charges pose a real threat, observers said, because\u00a0former Venezuelan President Nicol\u00e1s Maduro\u00a0was indicted on drug-related charges before he and his wife were seized by U.S. special forces in the Venezuelan capital in January.<\/p>

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\u201cHe\u2019s going to have to keep his head pretty low from now on,\u201d said Peter Kornbluh, a senior analyst and specialist on the U.S.-Cuba relationship at the National Security Archive. \u201cThey\u2019re going to have no choice but to take this threat extremely seriously.\u201d<\/p>\n