Cuba to hear jailed American's appeal July 22

HAVANA - Cuba's Supreme Court will consider an appeal by U.S. contractor Alan Gross, who was sentenced to 15 years in prison on charges of illegally importing communications equipment, on July 22, state television announced Thursday.

"The accused and his lawyer were informed of the decision this morning ... as well as U.S. authorities," said an official message that was also posted on government websites.

Gross was working on a USAID-funded democracy building program when he was arrested in December 2009. On March 11 he was sentenced to 15 years after being convicted of illegally importing communications equipment.

Jewish group visits Alan Gross in Cuban jail
Jimmy Carter meets with Alan Gross in Cuba

Cuba considers such programs to be aimed at undermining the government, and calls Gross a spy.

"Considerable evidence from witnesses, experts and documentation demonstrated his direct participation in a subversive project of the U.S. government to try to destroy the revolution," Thursday's official note read.

State Department officials have said privately that Cuban authorities indicated they might release Gross on humanitarian grounds following the trial. Despite rampant speculation, Carter said outright Tuesday that he was not in Cuba to secure Gross' release, CBS News' Portia Siegelbaum reported in March.