U.S. indicts Cuba's Ral Castro on murder and conspiracy charges for downing of planes in 1996 [View all]

Source: CBS News

Updated on: May 20, 2026 / 1:45 PM EDT / CBS News


Washington — Former Cuban leader Raúl Castro and five others have been indicted by a U.S. grand jury in Florida in connection with the Cuban military's fatal downing of two planes 30 years ago, the Justice Department announced Wednesday. The federal criminal charges against the 94-year-old Castro — brother of the late Fidel Castro and widely seen as one of Cuba's most powerful figures — mark an escalation in the Trump administration's pressure campaign against the Cuban government.

Castro served as president of Cuba from 2008 to 2018 and as the top official of the country's Communist Party from 2011 to 2021. CBS News was first to report that the U.S. was preparing to indict Castro. Castro was indicted in Miami on April 23 with conspiracy to kill U.S. nationals, four counts of murder and two counts of destruction of aircraft, according to court papers released Wednesday. The other five named defendants are identified as Cuban fighter pilots, including a pilot who was initially charged in connection with the 1996 shootdown more than two decades ago.

"For nearly 30 years, the families of four murdered Americans have waited for justice," acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said in a news conference in Miami on Wednesday. "My message today is clear: The United States and President Trump does not and will not forget its citizens."

It's not clear whether Castro will ever stand trial since Cuba does not extradite people to the United States. Former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro was indicted on drug charges in 2020. Earlier this year, he was captured by U.S. forces and flown to New York for trial, a daring operation that led to the installation of interim President Delcy Rodriguez, who is now working closely with the U.S.

Read more: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/raul-castro-indicted-us-cuba/