U.S. cracks down on embargo violators

MIAMI, Oct. 11 (UPI) -- The U.S. government said it would crack down on violators of the trade embargo against Cuba, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel newspaper reported Wednesday.

U.S. Attorney R. Alexander Acosta told the newspaper the penalty for embargo violators would be "much more than a mere slap on the wrist."

Individuals caught violating the embargo could face up to 10 years in prison and fines totaling $250,000. Corporations meanwhile could be fined as much as $1 million.

"The purpose of these sanctions is to isolate the Castro regime economically and deprive the Castro regime of the U.S. dollars it so desperately seeks," said Acosta, the Sun-Sentinel reported.

U.S. sanctions against the communist island have been in effect since 1962.