May 7, 1999
Web posted at: 7:54 PM EDT (2354 GMT)

MIAMI (CNN) -- An alleged Cuban spy already under indictment faces a new charge of murder conspiracy in connection with the downing of two Cuban exile planes in international waters in 1996.

Gerardo Hernandez, first accused as a spy in a federal indictment last fall, was charged with murder conspiracy in a new and broader indictment filed in U.S. District Court Friday.

The new indictment added four new names to the list of people accused of operating a widespread spy ring in south Florida directed by Cuban intelligence.

Most prominent: suspected Cuban double agent Juan Pable Roque. Roque defected to the United States in 1992, worked closely with the Brothers to the Rescue exile group, acted as a paid FBI informant on exile groups and wrote a book called "Deserter" lambasting Castro's dictatorship.

Four years later -- and one day before the planes were shot down -- Roque flew back to Cuba and was debriefed by Cuban officials.

U.S. prosecutors charge Hernandez and others acting as agents for the Cuban government were part of a group called "The Wasp Network." According to the indictment, "the activities of the network were overseen, directed, analyzed and reviewed by the Cuban Directorate of Intelligence."

The indictment charges Hernandez -- using the code name Giro -- worked directly for a Cuban intelligence operation called "Operation Scorpion."

Prosecutors allege Hernandez fed Scorpion information including Brothers to the Rescue flight data.

Authorities charge Hernandez and other Miami-based Cuban agents were warned by Cuban intelligence that none should fly with the exile group between February 24-27, 1996.

The two Brothers to the Rescue planes were shot down February 24.

The original indictment was filed in September 1998 and charged 10 people. All are in custody pending trial.

Prosecutors would not say whether they've contacted the Cuban government to try to have Roque turned over.

Alicia Valle, spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney's office in Miami, told CNN, "We will take whatever steps we may take to get a hold of a suspect who is outside our jurisdiction."