HAVANA — An American government subcontractor sentenced to 15 years in prison after illegally bringing communications equipment into Cuba told a Havana court he was a “trusting fool” and never meant any harm to the government, according to excerpts from his testimony released Friday by his attorney.
Alan Gross, a 62-year-old Maryland native who has been jailed here since December 2009, said he had no idea his actions while on a USAID-funded democracy-building program would raise the ire of Havana authorities.
Cuba says he was distributing satellite telephones and other communications equipment that are illegal to use without authorization.
Gross has maintained he was only trying to help Cuba’s tiny Jewish community improve Internet access.
“I do deeply regret that my actions have been misinterpreted as harmful and a threat against the security and independence of Cuba. Surely, this runs counter to what I had intended,” Gross told the court March 4, according to the transcript released by his Washington-based lawyer, Peter J. Kahn.
“I am deeply sorry for being a trusting fool,” he said. “I was duped. I was used. And my family and I have paid dearly for this.”
The court was apparently unmoved and sentenced Gross to 15 years for crimes against the state.
