Rocha’s arrest is particularly notable given his distinguished 25-year diplomatic career, which spanned both Democratic and Republican administrations. Born in Colombia and raised in a working-class home in New York City, Rocha earned degrees from prestigious institutions such as Yale, Harvard, and Georgetown before joining the foreign service in 1981.
His postings included significant roles in Latin America during the Cold War, and he even served at the U.S. Interests Section in Cuba during strained diplomatic relations with Fidel Castro’s communist government.
Controversial Agent of Cuba
Rocha’s tenure in Argentina, where he served as the top U.S. diplomat from 1997 to 2000, coincided with a tumultuous period. At that time the currency stabilization program collapsed.
He was directly involved in the 2002 Bolivian presidential race. Rocha tried to block the election of Evo Morales. His actions drew criticism and ultimately backfired when Morales was elected three years later.
This controversial move strained U.S.-Bolivia relations and led to Rocha’s successor being expelled by the leftist leader.
Post-Retirement Ventures
After retiring from the State Department, Rocha embarked on a second career in business. He served as the president of a gold mine in the Dominican Republic, partially owned by Canada’s Barrick Gold.
