Alan Gross facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alan Gross
|
|
|---|---|
Alan Gross talking on the phone with President Barack Obama, 2014
|
|
| Born |
Alan Phillip Gross
May 2, 1949 |
| Occupation | United States government contractor employed by U.S. Agency for International Development |
| Criminal status | Released |
| Spouse(s) | Judith Gross |
| Criminal penalty | 5 years in prison for importing banned technology with the intent of establishing clandestine Internet service |
| Imprisoned at | Carlos J. Finlay Military Hospital, Havana |
Alan Phillip Gross (born May 2, 1949) is an American who used to work for the United States government. He was a contractor for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). This agency helps other countries with development projects.
In December 2009, Alan Gross was arrested in Cuba. He was working on a program to help people get better internet access. Cuban officials said he was doing things against their country's rules. They accused him of bringing in special communication equipment. He was found guilty of "acts against the independence or the territorial integrity of the state" in March 2011.
Many people in the U.S. said he was not a spy. Alan Gross himself knew his work carried risks. He was held in a Cuban prison for five years. On December 17, 2014, he was released. He returned to the U.S. as part of an exchange for three Cubans who had been held in the U.S.
While Alan Gross was in prison, his wife, Judy Gross, took legal action against the company he worked for, Development Alternatives Incorporated (DAI), and USAID. The company later reached an agreement with them.
Contents
Who is Alan Gross?
Alan Gross was born on May 2, 1949, in Rockville Centre, New York. He grew up there and in Baltimore. He studied sociology and social work in college. Later, he moved to Potomac, Maryland.
He had a long career helping countries around the world. He worked in about 50 different places. These included countries in the Middle East, Africa, and Europe. His work often involved setting up satellite communication systems for groups that help people.
In 2001, he started his own company called JBDC LLC. This company helped provide internet access in places where it was hard to get. Alan Gross and his wife, Judy, lived in Potomac, Maryland. They have two daughters named Shira and Nina.
His Arrest and Trial
Why was he in Cuba?
Alan Gross was working for a company called Development Alternatives Inc. (DAI). This company had a contract with USAID. The program was meant to help Cubans get around their government's control over information. Alan Gross was paid for his work, but he spoke little Spanish. He had not worked in Cuba before this time.
USAID's program in Cuba was sometimes criticized. Some reports said it was not very effective. It was also said to put people in danger.
American officials said Gross visited Cuba four times in 2009. He went on a tourist visa. He delivered computers and satellite equipment to Jewish community groups. On his fifth trip in December 2009, he was checking on the equipment.
Cuba's Jewish community is small, with fewer than 2,000 people. They have religious freedom and good relations with the government. Some people wondered why the U.S. was giving them equipment through a program usually for government opponents.
Cuban authorities later said Gross had visited Cuba earlier, in 2004. They claimed he gave a video camera to a Freemason. This person later said he was a Cuban intelligence agent.
What did his reports say?
Alan Gross wrote reports about his trips to Cuba. These reports showed he knew about the risks he was taking. He did not say he worked for the U.S. government. Instead, he claimed to be part of a Jewish humanitarian group.
To avoid being caught, he asked American Jews to help. They would carry small pieces of electronic equipment in their bags. He also traveled with humanitarian groups. This way, he could get help if Cuban officials asked questions.
Gross said customs officials checked him thoroughly at the airport. He declared all the items he had. The equipment he brought included iPods, BlackBerry phones, MacBooks, and satellite modems. He wrote in one report that wireless networks were set up in three communities. About 325 people were using them.
On his fifth trip, he was carrying a special high-tech chip. This chip was designed to hide satellite phone signals. It is usually used by U.S. intelligence and defense groups. USAID said they did not help Gross get this chip.
When was he arrested?
Alan Gross was arrested on December 3, 2009. He was staying at the El Presidente Hotel. He was first held at a military hospital, then at Villa Marista prison. This is a detention center.
His arrest happened during a time of high tension between Cuba and the U.S. Gross was in jail for 25 days before a U.S. diplomat visited him. He was allowed to call his wife four days after his arrest.
During the visit from the U.S. diplomat, Gross said Cuban officials treated him "with respect." His questioning was "very intense at first." He shared a cell with two other men. The cell had a TV and a fan.
His lawyer, Armanda Nuria Piñero Sierra, also represented five Cubans held in U.S. prisons. This led to ideas that Cuba wanted to trade Gross for these five Cubans.
What were the charges?
In January 2010, a Cuban official said Gross was working for American intelligence. The U.S. government and Gross's lawyers denied this. In February 2011, Gross was charged with "acts against the independence and territorial integrity of the state." This crime could lead to up to 20 years in prison.
His sentence
On March 12, 2011, Alan Gross was sentenced to 15 years in prison. Cuban officials said he was part of a U.S. plan. They claimed this plan aimed to disrupt Cuba using communication systems. Gross's wife and U.S. lawyer attended the trial. Three U.S. officials also watched the trial.
Gross's case was appealed to Cuba's highest court. The court upheld his sentence in August 2011.
Reactions to his case
.jpg)
After the sentence, Gross's American lawyer said the family was very upset. He said Alan and his family had paid a huge price. He asked for Gross's immediate release for health reasons.
U.S. officials also asked for his release. They said his jailing was unfair. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said he was "unjustly jailed." She added that he needed to return home.
Many members of the U.S. Congress visited Cuba to see Gross. Jewish groups also asked for his release. They asked Pope Benedict XVI to speak to Cuban leaders about him.
Gross's wife, Judy, spoke out publicly. She said her husband was a "pawn" in a "failed policy." She believed the trial was about U.S. policy toward Cuba, not just about him. Gross himself wanted the U.S. and Cuba to talk and solve their issues.
Time in Prison
In April 2014, Alan Gross went on a hunger strike for nine days.
In August 2014, his wife reported that Gross refused to see her or their daughter. He also refused to see U.S. diplomats. He told them not to visit him again.
Gross was held at the Carlos J. Finlay Military Hospital. He shared a room with two other inmates who spoke Spanish. Gross knew some Spanish.
It was reported that Gross refused medical treatment in Cuba. He also threatened more hunger strikes if he was not released.
To pass the time, Gross became very interested in digital art. He used a computer given to him. He made over 2,000 pieces of art using Microsoft PowerPoint and Paint.
His health in prison
When arrested, Gross weighed 254 pounds. He lost a lot of weight during his time in prison. He also refused medical and dental care.
His wife and lawyer said his health got worse. They said he had arthritis and trouble walking. In May 2012, a lump appeared on his shoulder. Cuban doctors said it was a collection of blood.
Gross's family hired a U.S. doctor. This doctor thought the lump might be cancer. They asked for Gross to be released because of his health. The U.S. State Department also called for his release.
However, a leader of Cuba's Hebrew Community visited Gross. She said he looked "very agile." She also said he was not worried about the lump. In November 2012, a New York Rabbi and doctor examined Gross. He said Gross did not have cancer.
The Cuban government also confirmed the lump was not cancerous. They said Gross's health was normal for his age. They stated he was getting proper treatment.
In December 2014, Gross said his teeth had fallen out. He also said he had lost weight. But he still refused medical care. He wanted to be released right away.
His Release
In November 2014, The New York Times suggested the U.S. and Cuba trade prisoners. On December 17, 2014, the Cuban government released Alan Gross. They said it was for humanitarian reasons. He flew back to the United States on a U.S. government plane.
Some members of the Cuban Five were also released that day. The governments said these releases were not connected. This exchange was part of a larger effort to improve relations between the U.S. and Cuba. This period was known as the Cuban thaw.
Images for kids
-
Alan Gross talking on the phone with President Barack Obama, 2014
-
Alan Gross with his wife Judy, attorney Scott Gilbert, Rep. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., and Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz. watch television on board a U.S. government plane headed back to the U.S. as the news breaks of his release, Dec. 17, 2014.
See also
In Spanish: Alan Gross para niños
