The Justice Department announced Wednesday that it indicted former Cuban President Raúl Castro on seven criminal charges, including murder and conspiracy to kill Americans.
Raúl Castro faces federal charges for conspiracy to kill Americans and murder stemming from the 1996 shoot down of two civilian aircraft operated by Brothers to the Rescue. The Justice Department announced the indictment on Wednesday, charging the 94-year-old former Cuban president with seven criminal counts. Castro and five codefendants are accused of conspiracy to kill U.S. nationals, destruction of aircraft, and four counts of murder.
The charges relate to a tragic incident that occurred three decades ago. On February 24, 1996, Cuban military aircraft shot down two unarmed Cessna planes operated by the Miami-based humanitarian group Brothers to the Rescue. The aircraft were flying in international airspace when they were attacked by Cuban MiG jets. Four men died in the attack: Carlos Costa, Armando Alejandra Jr., Mario de la Pñena, and Pablo Morales. All were unarmed civilians conducting humanitarian rescue missions to help people fleeing oppression across the Florida Straits. The indictment alleges that Castro orchestrated the conspiracy that resulted in the deaths.
According to prosecutors, Castro and his codefendants participated in a plot that ended with Cuban military aircraft firing missiles at the civilian planes.