Miami Prosecutor Targets Cuban Officials as Trump Discusses Island Takeover

A federal prosecutor in Miami has formed a working group to investigate potential criminal cases against Cuban government officials. This development coincides with President Trump's recent statements about pursuing a "friendly takeover" of the communist island nation.

MIAMI — Federal prosecutors in Miami are exploring potential criminal charges against officials from Cuba’s government, sources familiar with the situation report. This development unfolds as President Trump continues discussing the prospect of a “friendly takeover” of the Caribbean nation.

Jason Reding Quiñones, who serves as the federal prosecutor for South Florida, has assembled a specialized team combining federal attorneys with agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration and additional agencies. Their mission involves developing criminal cases targeting individuals linked to Cuba’s government and ruling Communist Party, according to sources who requested anonymity since they lack authorization to speak publicly about the initiative.

The specific Cuban leaders under scrutiny and the nature of potential charges remain unclear at this time.

When asked for comment Friday, the Justice Department stated that “federal prosecutors from across the country work every day to pursue justice, which includes efforts to combat transnational crime.”

This prosecutorial effort emerges amid Trump’s increasingly confrontational approach toward Cuba’s communist regime.

Following the recent capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, a key Cuban ally, Trump announced last month that his administration was conducting high-level discussions with Havana officials regarding “a friendly takeover” of the island. He reiterated these assertions this week, indicating Cuba would receive his focus after concluding military action with Iran.

“They want to make a deal so bad,” Trump commented regarding Cuba’s leadership.

Although Cuba has diminished as a primary national security concern in Washington over recent years, it continues holding significant importance for Miami’s federal prosecutor’s office, where Cuban-American exile communities heavily influence the region’s political, economic, and cultural landscape.

The local FBI division maintains a specialized Cuba unit that played a crucial role in 2024’s arrest of former Ambassador Victor Manuel Rocha, who faced accusations of secretly working for Cuba since the 1970s.

Recently, multiple Miami-area Republican representatives, along with Florida Senator Rick Scott, have urged the Trump administration to revive criminal proceedings related to the 1996 incident where four aircraft operated by anti-communist exiles were shot down.

In their February 13 correspondence to Trump, legislators including Representatives Maria Elvira Salazar and Carlos Gimenez referenced decades-old reporting suggesting former President Raúl Castro, who commanded Cuba’s military then, authorized the attack on the unarmed Cessna planes.

“We believe unequivocally that Raúl Castro is responsible for this heinous crime,” the lawmakers stated. “It is time for him to be brought to justice.”

Though no charges against Castro have been announced, Florida’s attorney general indicated this week that state-level proceedings into the incident would begin.

The current administration has also criticized Cuba for failing to assist American anti-terrorism initiatives, placing it among a small group of nations including North Korea and Iran that the United States designates as state terrorism sponsors.

This classification results from Cuba’s protection of American fugitives and its unwillingness to surrender Colombian rebel commanders during their peace negotiations with that South American country.