Elsa Alvarez (born 1950), along with her husband
Carlos Alvarez, is accused of spying on
Cuba
Cuba, officially the Republic of Cuba, is an island country, comprising the island of Cuba (largest island), Isla de la Juventud, and List of islands of Cuba, 4,195 islands, islets and cays surrounding the main island. It is located where the ...
n exile groups in the
United States
The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
on behalf of the Cuban government.
Elsa Alvarez was born in Cuba, and gained United States citizenship in 1979. She married Carlos Alvarez the following year, and later took up a position at the
Florida International University
Florida International University (FIU) is a public research university with its main campus in Westchester, Florida, United States. Founded in 1965 by the Florida Legislature, the school opened to students in 1972. FIU is the third-largest univ ...
, where he worked. In January 2006, both were arrested for passing information to the Cuban
General Intelligence Directorate and charged with being a covert agent of the Republic of Cuba operating within the United States, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 951(a). It was alleged that she had been spying independently of her husband before they met, but her lawyers claim that she opposed her husband's work, and tried to persuade him to stop. She was released on bail before the trial (unlike her husband), with a District Court judge describing the case against her as "not very strong."
Elsa Alvarez entered a guilty plea December 18, 2006 and was later sentenced to 3 years in jail. Elsa Alvarez ceased to practice psychology and relinquished her license on October 22, 2007, and agreed to never again apply in Florida under Chapter 491.
No verifiable reference was found for Elsa Alvarez's current status.
See also
*
Carol Kisthardt
References
External links
2007 sentencing documentSigned 2006 plea agreement
1950 births
Living people
Florida International University people
American people convicted of spying for Cuba
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