Cuba Trial for Alan Gross Begins March 4
By Circles Robinson
HAVANA TIMES, Feb. 24 — US citizen Alan Gross, charged with working illegally in Cuba and detained in December 2009, goes on trial on March 4th.
The Maryland resident faces up to 20 years in prison for “acts against the independence and territorial integrity” of Cuba.
The Cuban prosecutor will try to prove that Gross, 61, was caught distributing illegal satellite equipment as an employee of Development Alternatives Inc. a contractor frequently used by US-AID in countries including Afghanistan and Irak.
The US State Department had claimed that Gross was only helping Cuban Jews to improve their communications but the leaders of the Jewish community denied any knowledge of him.
The announcement of the trial date appearing on an official Cuban website on Thursday states that United States officials, Gross’ family and attorneys can participate at the trial.
For more on the Alan Gross case see the following articles:
Cuba Charges Alan Gross, Faces 20-Years