Cuban Spy Renounces U.S. Citizenship; Will Stay In Cuba

MIAMI (CBSMiami/AP) — A federal judge will allow a convicted Cuban spy to permanently stay in the Caribbean island nation in exchange for renouncing his U.S. citizenship.

The decision Friday by U.S. District Judge Joan Lenard means that the first of the so-called Cuban Five spy ring will be returning to his homeland for good. Four others remain imprisoned in the U.S.

Rene Gonzalez was released from prison in October 2011 but was serving three years' probation. The Justice Department initially opposed his request to serve probation in Cuba.

Officials dropped their opposition when Gonzalez offered to renounce his U.S. citizenship. Gonzalez arrived in Cuba recently for what was originally to be a temporary visit to attend his father's funeral. Gonzalez is a Cuban citizen, and has a wife and daughters living in Cuba.

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