Florida prosecutor obtains arrest warrant for former Cuban leader Raúl Castro
A Florida state attorney issued a warrant charging former Cuban president Raúl Castro with conspiracy to commit first‑degree homicide over a 1996 shootdown that killed four Floridians.
Key points
- Florida State Attorney James Uthmeier secured a state arrest warrant for Raúl Castro.
- The warrant accuses Castro of conspiracy to commit first‑degree homicide related to the 1996 shootdown of two unarmed planes.
- The incident killed four Floridians and was carried out by Cuban fighter jets while Castro was Minister of Defense.
- Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez called the indictment unfounded and a political maneuver.
- A separate federal indictment was filed in Washington on May 20.
Florida prosecutor secures arrest warrant for former Cuban leader Raúl Castro
On Monday, Florida State Attorney James Uthmeier announced that a state arrest warrant has been issued for former Cuban President Raúl Castro, charging him with conspiracy to commit first-degree homicide.
The charges stem from the February 24, 1996 incident in which two Cuban fighter jets shot down two unarmed planes operated by the organization Hermanos al Rescate. The attack killed four Floridians; a third aircraft carrying leader José Basulto escaped.
At the time of the shootdown, Raúl Castro was serving as Cuba’s Minister of Defense; he is now 95 years old.
"Raúl Castro ordenó el asesinato de cuatro floridanos a sangre fría y Florida nunca dejará de buscar justicia"
Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez called the indictment unfounded and described it as “una maniobra estéril de los políticos anticubanos del sur de Florida.”
The state case is independent of a federal indictment that Washington filed on May 20.
Your questions, answered
What is the Florida arrest warrant about?
The warrant charges former Cuban president Raúl Castro with conspiracy to commit first‑degree homicide for a 1996 shootdown that killed four Floridians.
Who issued the Florida warrant?
Florida State Attorney James Uthmeier announced the issuance of the state arrest warrant.
Is there a federal case too?
Yes, Washington filed a separate federal indictment on May 20.
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