Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announced the indictment of former Cuban President Raúl Castro on murder charges.
Blanche made the announcement Wednesday afternoon in Miami.
The announcement coincided with Cuba’s independence day as well with a threat from President Donald Trump that he may invade the island.
The announcement was also “in conjunction with a ceremony to honor the victims of the Brothers to the Rescue.”
Four men were killed in 1996 while searching for those potentially seeking to leave the island and reach Florida’s shores.
Their planes were shot down by the Cuban military, which Castro led at the time.
“For the first time in nearly 70 years, senior leadership of the Cuban regime has been charged in this country, in the United States of America, for acts of violence resulting in the deaths of American citizens,” Blanche said.
“Nations and their leaders cannot be permitted to target Americans, kill them, and not face accountability,” he added.
