Queen of Cuba: An FBI Agent's Insider Account of the Spy Who Evaded Detection for 17 Years

Ana Montes was a Cuban spy who worked for the Defense Intelligence Agency for seventeen years. She was raised in a patriotic Puerto Rican household and had a brother who was also an FBI agent. After the 9/11 attacks, Cuba wanted her to continue her work, but the FBI was already on to her. Peter J. Lapp, a retired FBI agent, explains the clues that led their team to catch one of the United States most dangerous spies.

Format: Hardback
Length: 272 pages
Publication date: 18 January 2024
Publisher: Permuted Press

An FBI agent was on a mission to capture a spy who was ready to expose America's biggest secrets after the 9/11 attacks. This spy was a woman and an employee of the Defense Intelligence Agency, known as "the Queen of Cuba." The woman, Ana Montes, had spent seventeen years spying for the Cubans. She was raised in a patriotic Puerto Rican household, with her father being a former colonel in the U.S. Army and her sister working as a translator for the FBI. Her brother was also a loyal FBI agent. Montes impressed her bosses with her work, but in secret, she spent her breaks memorizing top-secret documents before sending them to the Cuban government. She did this without any payment, even though one of her missives could have resulted in her death penalty.

In addition to her spying activities, Montes also sought help for her anxiety and depression. She listened to anxiety-relief tapes, took medication, and saw a psychiatrist. She dreamed of a normal life where she could work a job she enjoyed and get married. She even had a man in mind, a defense analyst on the Cuba account for Southern Command. However, Montes had a secret life that she kept hidden from everyone, including her boyfriend.

Montes received encrypted messages from Cuba three times a week using a short-wave radio that she kept hidden in her closet. The FBI was already aware of her activities and was working to catch her. Retired FBI agent Peter J. Lapp explains the clues that led their team to capture one of the United States' most dangerous spies. These clues included never-released information that helped them identify Montes and track her down.

The FBI's investigation into Montes was complex and challenging. They had to navigate through a web of lies and deceit to uncover her true identity and motives. They also had to deal with the Cuban government, which was not willing to cooperate with them. However, their team was determined to bring Montes to justice and protect America's national security.

In the end, Montes was arrested and charged with espionage. She was sentenced to twenty years in prison, but she was eventually released in 2016 after serving ten years. Montes' story is a cautionary tale about the dangers of espionage and the importance of protecting America's secrets. It also highlights the dedication and skill of the FBI agents who worked to capture her.

Weight: 502g
Dimension: 160 x 236 x 28 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781637589595