Florida is coming after communist Cuban dictator Raúl Castro, and this time, the 95-year-old brother of Fidel Castro is facing a state arrest warrant in connection with the deaths of four men nearly three decades ago.
A Miami-Dade County judge has issued a NO-BOND arrest warrant for Castro on a state charge of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, stemming from the February 24, 1996, shootdown of two unarmed civilian aircraft operated by the Miami-based humanitarian organization Brothers to the Rescue.
The warrant was signed Friday, October 16, following an investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. It comes as Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier intensifies efforts to hold the former Cuban leader accountable for the deadly attack.
According to the arrest warrant obtained by Fox News Digital, a judge found probable cause to believe Castro participated in a conspiracy that led to the killing of four men aboard the civilian aircraft.
The victims were:
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Carlos Costa
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Pablo Morales
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Mario de la Peña
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Armando Alejandre Jr.
The four men were killed when Cuban fighter jets shot down two Brothers to the Rescue aircraft over international waters during a humanitarian mission.
For their families and Miami’s Cuban exile community, the tragedy has remained an open wound for 30 years.
Now, Florida is pursuing another avenue for justice.
The state warrant is particularly significant because it represents a separate criminal proceeding from the federal indictment already brought against Castro earlier this year.
Unlike the federal case, this prosecution is being pursued under Florida law.
And the warrant comes with NO BOND.
According to local reporting, Florida authorities also intend to seek Castro’s extradition if he is arrested outside the state.