Washington, D.C.—Yesterday, a Cuban court sentenced USAID American contractor Alan Gross to 15 years in prison for distributing satellite communications gear to Cubans in a manner that the court deemed a violation of Cuban law. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) released the following statement:
“I am disappointed that the Cuban court sentenced Alan Gross to 15 years in prison for his activities on behalf of the United States government under programs approved in 2008. I would urge the Cuban government to immediately consider giving Mr. Gross an expedited humanitarian release, considering his own serious health issues and those of his immediate family. He has suffered enough and should come home now.”
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