The Office of the Attorney General in Cuba has called for sentences ranging from two to four years of restricted freedom, along with fines up to 25,000 Cuban pesos, for four Freemasons accused of illegal currency trafficking. These transactions, which totaled no more than $300, were conducted at the informal market rate, as revealed by court documents obtained by CubaNet.
Those facing charges include José Ramón Viñas Alonso, former sovereign grand commander of the Supreme Council of the 33rd Degree; Fernando Marcos García, accountant for the National Masonic Llansó Home; Ángel Santiesteban Prats, the current sovereign grand commander; and Osvaldo Ernesto Villegas Digat.
The prosecution is based on two currency exchange operations: in September 2023, Viñas Alonso authorized Santiesteban Prats to exchange 49,600 Cuban pesos for $200 from the asylum; and in June 2025, he authorized Villegas Digat to exchange 37,500 pesos for another $100 from the institution.
The dollars involved originated from donations to the National Masonic Llansó Home, an elderly care institution established by Cuban Freemasonry in 1918 in Arroyo Naranjo, Havana, which currently houses approximately 90 residents.
Viñas Alonso faces the harshest penalty, with a proposed four-year restriction of liberty and a 25,000 CUP fine. Marcos García is looking at three years and a 20,000 CUP fine; Santiesteban Prats and Villegas Digat are each facing two years and a 20,000 CUP fine.
Accusations Beyond Financial Crimes
The prosecutor’s document includes a characterization of Santiesteban Prats that seems unrelated to an economic crime. It states that he "does not engage in any socially useful activity" and "openly speaks against the revolutionary process prevailing in Cuba."
Interestingly, the file was processed by the MININT body specializing in crimes against State Security, despite the charges being economic in nature, not related to state security.
Defense Argues for Exoneration
Defense attorney Roberto Ortega Ortiz argues for the acquittal of all four defendants, denying that the transactions constituted any crime.
"The currency exchanges conducted did not provide any personal gain to those involved. Instead, they were carried out to improve the lives of the elderly residents of the National Masonic Llansó Home, which is a charitable endeavor by the Freemasons," the lawyer stated in his October 9 submission.
According to the defense, the $200 was used to purchase powdered milk for the residents, while the remaining $100 was personal money belonging to Villegas Digat, exchanged to provide the institution with pesos for emergencies and to buy medicine for his son.
Broader Crackdown on Freemasonry
This legal case is part of a broader crackdown by the regime against Cuban Freemasonry, which has intensified since 2024. This includes the Justice Ministry's intervention in the Supreme Council of the 33rd Degree's governing bodies, freezing of bank accounts, and initiation of criminal proceedings against its leaders.
Ironically, Santiesteban Prats was elected as the new sovereign grand commander on September 26, with 19 votes in favor and one against, while already under house arrest and facing criminal charges.
The order to commence the oral trial, signed on August 24 by Judge Zamira Marrero Morgado, upholds the precautionary measure of house arrest and travel ban for the four accused.
Understanding the Legal Proceedings Against Cuban Masons
What are the charges against the Cuban Masons?
The charges involve illegal currency trafficking, with accusations centered on exchanging Cuban pesos for dollars at the informal market rate.
What is the defense's argument regarding these exchanges?
The defense argues that the exchanges did not benefit the individuals personally but were intended to support the residents of the Masonic home, which is seen as a charitable act.
Why is this case significant in the context of Cuban Freemasonry?
It highlights the ongoing repression by the Cuban regime against Freemasonry, which includes legal actions and financial restrictions since 2024.