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JW CLIENT EARNS KEY VICTORY OVER CASTRO Cuban Spy Sentenced to Life for Conspiracy to Murder Brothers to the Rescue Members On February 24, 1996, Communist spies operating on behalf of Castro’s government murdered four members of JW client Jose Basulto’s Brothers to the Rescue team. Their planes were shot down by the Cuban Air Force as they were patrolling the seas in search of Cuban refugees. On December 12, 2001, nearly six years later, justice was finally served. Gerardo Hernandez, the leader of the spy ring responsible for the murder, was sentenced to life in prison for orchestrating Castro’s plot to shoot down the unarmed civilian aircraft. He was also convicted of espionage for attempting to infiltrate U.S. military bases. Though Hernandez denied knowing about the plot, prosecutors were able to prove he warned two of his fellow agents who had infiltrated Brothers to the Rescue not to fly during a four-day stretch that included the day of the murders. “Some measure of justice has finally been achieved for the cold-blooded murder of American citizens on a humanitarian mission,” said JW Chairman Larry Klayman. “But this is only the beginning for Castro and his regime. Judicial Watch will not rest until Castro is brought to justice.” Judicial Watch filed a complaint in October with the Belgian Royal Court in Brussels seeking the criminal indictment of Castro. A 1993 Belgian law establishes the right of victims of “crimes against humanity” to seek justice through the Belgian courts. The suit, which has been filed by JW on behalf of victims of Castro’s regime, has been accepted and has been assigned to Investigative Magistrate Patrick Colignon. Importantly, Belgium has an extradition treaty with Cuba that would force the Communist regime to turn Castro over to authorities if convicted. “This is something the United States government should have done long ago,” said Larry Klayman. “But as usual, when the government fails to do its job of protecting the American people, JW steps in to fill the void.” Jose Basulto, President of Brothers to the rescue, survived the attack on February 24, 1996, and was recently given Judicial Watch’s “Freedom Award” for his important work in helping Cuban refugees realize their dreams of freedom on American soil.
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