Cuban spy convicted in Miami can travel home to visit sick brother

Posted on Monday, 03.19.12

Cuban spy convicted in Miami can travel home to visit sick brother
By EL NUEVO HERALD

A federal judge in Miami granted a Cuban spy's request to return home
temporarily to visit a brother suffering from lung cancer.

According to Monday's order by Judge Joan Leonard, Rene Gonzalez must
return from Cuba within two weeks of his departure. Gonzalez is on
probation after his release from federal prison last fall.

The Justice Department argued against the request, arguing that Gonzalez
could get new spying instructions if he met with Cuban intelligence
officials.

Gonzalez, 55, is one of the so-called "Cuban Five" convicted of spying
on Cuban exiles in South Florida and attempting to infiltrate military
installations and political campaigns. One of the five also was
convicted of murder conspiracy for the 1996 shooting down of two
Brothers to the Rescue planes.

Gonzalez's lawyer, Philip Horowitz, told El Nuevo Herald that the ruling
does not mean Gonzalez can leave for Cuba as early as Tuesday, however.

Gonzalez must comply first with some procedural requirements, including
notifications for his parole officer, before he can leave the country,
Horowitz said.

http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/03/19/2703126/cuban-spy-convicted-in-miami.html