MIAMI (AP) - A psychology professor accused of being a Cuban agent admitted Friday that he was a ``collaborator'' with Cuba's intelligence service, communicating with officials using a short-wave radio, sophisticated encryption techniques and a code name, ``David.''Carlos Alvarez insisted, however, that he had distanced himself from the communist government by the time he confessed details of his work last year. He also denied being a Cuban agent and said he was never employed by that government.
``I was not an agent of the Cuban government. I was a collaborator, which is very different,'' the Florida International University professor testified. ``I was collaborating, basically, sharing insights and information with the Cuban government for some years,'' Alvarez said. ``Information that I felt was pertinent.''
| Oh. I see. Just a collaborator. Anyone can understand the difference. Can we hang him now? |
If Alvarez prevails on the motion, his confession to the FBI won't be admissible at trial. Prosecutors, however, have other evidence in the case, including material from telephone wiretaps and a listening device in the home of Alvarez, 61, and his 56-year-old wife, Elsa, who is also charged. The couple have pleaded not guilty to charges of being unregistered Cuban intelligence operatives for more than two decades, reporting mainly on activities of Cuban-American exile groups in Miami and on U.S. political developments.
Carlos Alvarez said he quit providing information to Cuba by 1998, well before he was approached by two FBI agents in June 2005 at a Miami supermarket about his involvement. The government contends Carlos Alvarez continued his work until at least 2004. Prosecutor Brian Frazier cited recent meetings between two Cubans, including one he described as an intelligence officer.
In videotaped transcripts of his FBI interviews, Alvarez repeatedly agreed with the FBI agents when they said his confession was voluntary and that he was free to go anytime. Alvarez testified Friday that he feared that contradicting the agents would subject him to criminal prosecution and result in a scandal for his family.
The FBI agents Alvarez confessed to, Albert Alonso and Rosa Schureck, testified earlier this week that they never promised him immunity. The agents also testified that their ultimate goal was to turn Alvarez into a ``double agent'' who would spy for the U.S. against Cuba. Alvarez, however, said Friday that he hadn't heard that before.