Jewish Leaders Meet With Md. Man Jailed In Cuba

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- New insight from a prison in Cuba about the Maryland man convicted of spying on the Cuban government. WJZ has heard from Jewish leaders who met with Alan Gross.

Kai Jackson has more on Gross' condition.

An activist who's recently seen Alan Gross says he physically appears healthy, yet Gross' wife says her husband's spirit is fading fast.

Just released photos of jailed American Alan Gross are encouraging. They show Gross with a Jewish leader in Cuba named Adela Dworin.

Dworin met with Gross for two hours on Monday and says, "His health is very good. He has gained some weight. He's not fat but he's not so thin anymore."

Earlier this year, Gross was sentenced to 15 years in a Cuban prison, convicted of being a spy. Gross says he was only trying to help the island's Jewish community improve its Internet service when he was arrested in December 2009. He and his family deny that he's a spy.

"Imagine getting locked up for 15 years for bringing cell phones into the country," said his wife, Judy Gross. "He actually did pass through customs; they saw everything he had."

High-profile supporters have demanded the Cuban government release Alan Gross. His advocates have included Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Dworin says, "He wants to have hope" but Judy Gross says, "It was upsetting to see the photos of Alan from his visit with Adela Dworin."

Gross was working with a democracy building program called USAID when he was arrested.