U.S. and Cuba Working On Solution to Free American Alan Gross From Cuban Jail

U.S. and Cuba Working On Solution to Free American Alan Gross From Cuban
Jail
Dec 3, 2014, 12:04 AM ET
By JIM AVILA and SERENA MARSHALL
Senior National Correspondent

Alan Gross is seen in this undated file photo. bringalanhome.com
Today is the 5th anniversary of U.S. government contractor Alan Gross's
arrest for espionage in Cuba, and ABC news has learned exclusive details
about the 65-year-old's frail physical condition and his even worse
mental situation.

Last spring it was reported that Gross had lost more than 100 pounds,
but today sources who have visited with Gross in the last week told ABC
News his health has vastly deteriorated. He has lost all but one of his
front teeth, can barely walk because of hip damage, and is blind in one eye.

Gross is no longer accepting visits or food from the U.S. Interest
Section in Havana and refuses medical or dental care from the Cuban
military hospital where he is being held. Because of mobility issues
stemming from his deteriorating health, he stays in his room at the
military hospital 24 hours a day. He is kept in a 10 by 20 foot dorm
room with 2 other prisoners who speak no English.

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Gross has threatened to begin a hunger strike this month if he is not
released soon and vows not to spend one more year in captivity—even if
it means he dies of hunger.

In a statement released this morning to mark the anniversary Wednesday,
Gross's wife Judy says: "Enough is enough. My husband has paid a
terrible price for serving his country and community."

"Alan is resolved that he will not endure another year imprisoned in
Cuba, and I am afraid that we are at the end. After five years of
literally wasting away, Alan is done. It is time for President Obama to
bring Alan back to the United States now; otherwise it will be too late."

Gross was sentenced to 15 years in 2011 for bringing telecommunication
devices into Cuba while working as a subcontractor for USAID. The Cuban
government accused him of being party to a U.S.-led plot to overthrow
the government through an "Arab spring."

White House sources tell ABC news the National Security Council and
president are aware of Gross's condition and are working on a solution.

In November, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said at a briefing
"that the United States believes that Mr. Gross should be released
immediately."

"His detention is certainly not appropriate, it's not justified, and
it's time for him to be reunited with his family here at home," Earnest
said. "We have also indicated that his continued detention is an
obstacle in the relationship between the United States and Cuba and
certainly would interfere with any effort along the lines (of
normalizing relations between US and Cuba)."

"Cuba's failure to release Mr. Gross is hurting the relationship between
the United States and Cuba," he said. Cuban officials tell ABC News they
are equally concerned about Gross' deteriorating health but that he has
continued to refuse all medical care.

The Cuban government has long equated Gross's arrest with those of five
Cuban spies arrested in Miami for spying on anti-Castro groups and has
proposed a "humanitarian release" involving prisoners of both sides.

Source: U.S. and Cuba Working On Solution to Free American Alan Gross
From Cuban Jail - ABC News -
<http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/us-cuba-working-solution-free-american-alan-gross/story?id=27318148>