U.S. and Cuba in talks to have Tupac Shakur's convicted cop killer aunt and notorious Cuban spy exchanged in prisoner swap
- The two countries are reportedly in talks about possible prisoner exchange
- Discussions, part of efforts to normalize diplomatic relations between the two, are said to be in early stages
- Among prisoners that could be released in the possible swap include Joanne Chesimard, aunt of Tupac Shakur, and Cuban spy Ana Montes
- Chesimard, also known as Assata Shakur, was convicted of killing a New Jersey State trooper in 1973
- Montes is a former senior US Defense Intelligence Agency analyst who was found guilty in 2002 for spying for the Cuban government for 17 years
The United States and Cuba are reportedly in talks about a possible prisoner exchange that could see the release of Tupac Shakur's aunt and a notorious Cuban spy.
The discussions, which are part of efforts to normalize diplomatic relations between the two countries, are believed to be in the early stages, according to NBC News.
Among those reportedly named as prisoners to be released in the possible swap include the aunt of late rapper Tupac Shakur, Joanne Chesimard, and Cuban spy Ana Montes.
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The U.S. and Cuba are reportedly in talks about a possible prisoner exchange that could see the release of Tupac Shakur's aunt Joanne Chesimard (left) and Cuban spy Ana Montes (right)
American officials said the US is keen to have Americans who sought refuge in Cuba from US prosecution returned to American soil.
Of those Americans they would reportedly be interested in getting back include Chesimard, also known as Assata Shakur, who was convicted of killing New Jersey State Trooper Werner Foerester in 1973, NBC reported.
A former Black Panther, Chesimard was sentenced to life in prison but she escaped in 1979 and then fled to Cuba.
In 2013, she became the first woman to be added to the FBI's Most Wanted List.
American officials said the US is keen to have Americans who sought refuge in Cuba from US prosecution returned, including Chesimard (left), also known as Assata Shakur, who is the aunt of late rapper Tupac (right)
She was convicted of killing New Jersey State Trooper Werner Foerester in 1973, NBC reported. A former Black Panther, Chesimard was sentenced to life in prison but she escaped in 1979 and then fled to Cuba
Meanwhile, Cuban leaders are reportedly interested in getting Montes back to Cuba, a former senior US Defense Intelligence Agency analyst convicted in 2002 for spying for the Cuban government for 17 years.
Montes, who was arrested in September 2001, is considered one of the most damaging spies in recent history, because she had access to - and betrayed - U.S. intelligence activities in Cuba.
Investigators said she memorized classified information while working on the job and then typed it on a laptop when she was at her apartment before storing it in coded form on disks, NBC reported.
Montes, who was sentenced to 25 years in prison, then passed the information to her Cuban handlers. She is set to be released in 2023.
While the State Department declined to discuss the details of a possible prisoner exchange, a spokesman told NBC the US is continuing to seek the return of fugitives from US justice from Cuba.
Cuban officials are interested in getting back former senior US Defense Intelligence Agency analyst Ana Montes (pictured) who convicted in 2002 for spying for the Cuban government for 17 years
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