American Given 15-Year Sentence

Walter Van der Veer, 52, an American accused of trying to overthrow the Cuban government, was sentenced to 15 years in prison, his lawyer said in Miami. He was charged with plotting to attack police and tourists while gathering material for Molotov cocktails before his arrest in August 1996. Prosecutors had originally sought the death penalty but then asked a five-member tribunal for 20 years. At his closed-door Nov. 6 trial in Havana, Van der Veer admitted distributing anti-government leaflets but denied attempting to topple the Fidel Castro regime.