Few details of the mid-August meeting between Alan Gross and his wife Judy were available. It was not immediately clear whether it meant the sensitive case was closer to resolution.

The trip by Judy Gross was arranged with the help of the Roman Catholic Church, whose leader in Cuba, Cardinal Jaime Ortega, has made recent visits to Washington and met with members of the administration of US President Barack Obama, said the sources, none of whom wanted to be named.

The couple reportedly spent time together at the beach in their first meeting since his arrest at Havana airport in early December. Gross, 61, who has not been formally charged, worked for a Washington-area company contracted under a US-funded program to promote democracy in Cuba.

Cuban officials including President Raul Castro have said he was distributing satellite communications equipment to government opponents and hinted at his involvement in espionage. Washington has denied he was spying.

A spokesman for the Catholic Church in Cuba declined to comment on the Judy Gross visit and a spokeswoman at the US Interests Section in Havana referred questions to the Gross family and lawyers, who could not be reached.

The Cuban government, which has said they are still investigating Gross, had no immediate comment.

The United States has said Gross was setting up Internet services for Jewish groups in Cuba, but admitted he entered the country on a tourist visa without declaring his intentions.

Gross’ arrest brought to a halt a slight warming in US-Cuba ties. US officials have said there would be no major initiatives with Havana as long as he remains in jail.