Cuban spy officially stripped of US citizenship

Westport News

Cuban agent Rene Gonzalez, 56, holds up his U.S. certificate of loss of nationality during a press conference in Havana, Cuba, Friday, May 10, 2013. Gonzalez who spent 13 years in a U.S. prison renounced his American citizenship Monday, May 6, 2013, as part of a deal that allows him to avoid returning to the United States to serve out the remainder of his probation. Gonzalez is one of the so-called "Cuban Five" intelligence agents convicted in 2001 of spying on U.S. military installations in South Florida, exile groups and politicians. Photo: Franklin Reyes

HAVANA (AP) — A Cuban intelligence agent who served 13 years in a U.S. prison has officially been stripped of his American citizenship.

Rene Gonzalez said Friday he received a certificate of loss of nationality from the U.S. diplomatic mission in Havana this week.

Gonzalez, who was a dual national, volunteered to give up his U.S. citizenship in return for being allowed to stay in Cuba with his family.

The 56-year-old is one of the so-called 'Cuban Five." The men were convicted in 2001 of spying on U.S. military installations as well as exile groups and politicians.

He was released from federal prison in 2011 but ordered to serve three years of probation. The U.S. dropped its opposition to his returning home earlier this year, allowing the deal to go through.