American Alan Gross Freed From Cuba in Prisoner Exchange

Evan McMurryDec 17th, 2014, 9:26 am

American Alan Gross, arrested several years ago in Cuba and convicted in 2011 of espionage, was released from captivity in a prisoner swap with the United States, authorities said Wednesday.

Gross, 65, was arrested for allegedly smuggling telecommunication devices from the United States into the blockaded country 90 miles from the U.S. shore. He was working for USAID at the time, but Cuban officials accused him of trying to foment revolution.

The swap is in exchange for three Cubans held in the U.S. for spying on Miami anti-Castro groups.

President Barack Obama has been in back-channel talks to secure Gross’ release for over a year. Gross’ physical state was described as deteriorating after years in squalid conditions, and he was reportedly threatening a hunger strike.

Obama and Cuban President Raúl Castro are expected to hold noon press conferences on the prisoner exchange and its impact on future U.S.-Cuban relations.

Watch a report on the release below, via ABC News: