Former U.S. government subcontractor Alan Gross has been freed from a Cuban prison after five years. The 65-year-old married father-of-one was released on humanitarian grounds by the Cuban government at the request of the Obama administration. As part of the deal, three Cubans jailed in the U.S. have also been released. On Wednesday morning, Gross was on a U.S.-bound government plane to meet his family, who recently voiced concern about his gaunt frame and waning physique. Scroll down for video . Back home for Christmas: Former U.S. government subcontractor Alan Gross - pictured here in 2012 - has been freed from a Cuban prison after five years . 'I am afraid that we are at the end. After five years of literally wasting away, Alan is done,' his wife, Judy, said in a statement this month. Obama administration officials have considered Gross' imprisonment an impediment to improving relations with Cuba, but the surprise deal could help clear the way for broader discussions on strengthening ties and perhaps ending the decades-long U.S. economic embargo against its long-time communist foe. President Barack Obama was to address the nation on Cuba at noon Wednesday, the White House said, and U.S. officials speaking on condition of anonymity said he was expected to announce Gross' release. They were not authorized to be identified by name before Obama's remarks. Happier times: The 65-year-old married father-of-one was released on humanitarian grounds by the Cuban government at the request of the Obama administration - here he is pictured with his wife, Judy . Ongoing battle: Obama administration officials have considered Gross' imprisonment an impediment to improving relations with Cuba . Gross was detained in December 2009 while working to set up Internet access as a subcontractor for the U.S. government's U.S. Agency for International Development, which does work promoting democracy in the communist country. It was his fifth trip to Cuba to work with Jewish communities on setting up Internet access that bypassed local censorship. Cuba considers USAID's programs illegal attempts by the U.S. to undermine its government, and Gross was tried and sentenced to 15 years in prison. The three Cubans released in exchange for Gross are part of the so-called Cuban Five - a group of men who were part of the 'Wasp Network' sent by Cuba's then-President Fidel Castro to spy in South Florida. The men, who are hailed as heroes in Cuba, were convicted in 2001 in Miami on charges including conspiracy and failure to register as foreign agents in the U.S. Two of the Cuban Five were previously released after finishing their sentences. Turn of events: Gross was detained in December 2009 while working to set up Internet access as a subcontractor for the U.S. government's U.S. Agency for International Development, which does work promoting democracy in the communist country . In a statement marking the fifth anniversary of Gross' detention earlier this month, Obama hinted that his release could lead to a thaw in relations with Cuba. 'The Cuban Government's release of Alan on humanitarian grounds would remove an impediment to more constructive relations between the United States and Cuba,' Obama said in a statement. The president has taken some steps to ease U.S. restrictions on Cuba after Raul Castro took over as president in 2010 from his ailing brother. He has sought to ease travel and financial restrictions on Americans with family in Cuba, but has resisted calls to drop the embargo. The surprise prisoner swap has echoes of the deal the U.S. cut earlier this year to secure the release of Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, who had been held by the Taliban. In exchange for his release in May, the U.S. turned over five Taliban prisoners held at the Guantanamo Bay detention center.
Alan Gross was arrested in Cuba on December 3 2009 while working covertly in the Communist-run country to set up Internet access .
He was later convicted and sentenced to 15 years in prison for importing banned technology .
On Wednesday he was released on humanitarian grounds by the Cuban government at the request of the Obama administration .
As part of the deal, three Cubans jailed in the U.S. have also been released .
Former U.S. government subcontractor Alan Gross has been freed from a Cuban prison after five years. The 65-year-old married father-of-one was released on humanitarian grounds by the Cuban government at the request of the Obama administration. As part of the deal, three Cubans jailed in the U.S. have also been released. On Wednesday morning, Gross was on a U.S.-bound government plane to meet his family, who recently voiced concern about his gaunt frame and waning physique. Scroll down for video . Back home for Christmas: Former U.S. government subcontractor Alan Gross - pictured here in 2012 - has been freed from a Cuban prison after five years . 'I am afraid that we are at the end. After five years of literally wasting away, Alan is done,' his wife, Judy, said in a statement this month. Obama administration officials have considered Gross' imprisonment an impediment to improving relations with Cuba, but the surprise deal could help clear the way for broader discussions on strengthening ties and perhaps ending the decades-long U.S. economic embargo against its long-time communist foe. President Barack Obama was to address the nation on Cuba at noon Wednesday, the White House said, and U.S. officials speaking on condition of anonymity said he was expected to announce Gross' release. They were not authorized to be identified by name before Obama's remarks. Happier times: The 65-year-old married father-of-one was released on humanitarian grounds by the Cuban government at the request of the Obama administration - here he is pictured with his wife, Judy . Ongoing battle: Obama administration officials have considered Gross' imprisonment an impediment to improving relations with Cuba . Gross was detained in December 2009 while working to set up Internet access as a subcontractor for the U.S. government's U.S. Agency for International Development, which does work promoting democracy in the communist country. It was his fifth trip to Cuba to work with Jewish communities on setting up Internet access that bypassed local censorship. Cuba considers USAID's programs illegal attempts by the U.S. to undermine its government, and Gross was tried and sentenced to 15 years in prison. The three Cubans released in exchange for Gross are part of the so-called Cuban Five - a group of men who were part of the 'Wasp Network' sent by Cuba's then-President Fidel Castro to spy in South Florida. The men, who are hailed as heroes in Cuba, were convicted in 2001 in Miami on charges including conspiracy and failure to register as foreign agents in the U.S. Two of the Cuban Five were previously released after finishing their sentences. Turn of events: Gross was detained in December 2009 while working to set up Internet access as a subcontractor for the U.S. government's U.S. Agency for International Development, which does work promoting democracy in the communist country . In a statement marking the fifth anniversary of Gross' detention earlier this month, Obama hinted that his release could lead to a thaw in relations with Cuba. 'The Cuban Government's release of Alan on humanitarian grounds would remove an impediment to more constructive relations between the United States and Cuba,' Obama said in a statement. The president has taken some steps to ease U.S. restrictions on Cuba after Raul Castro took over as president in 2010 from his ailing brother. He has sought to ease travel and financial restrictions on Americans with family in Cuba, but has resisted calls to drop the embargo. The surprise prisoner swap has echoes of the deal the U.S. cut earlier this year to secure the release of Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, who had been held by the Taliban. In exchange for his release in May, the U.S. turned over five Taliban prisoners held at the Guantanamo Bay detention center.
released on humanitarian grounds by the Cuban government at the request of the Obama administration. As part of the deal, three Cubans jailed in the U.S. have also been released. On humanitarian grounds by the Cuban government at the request of the Obama administration - here he December 2009 while working to set up Internet government, and Gross was tried and sentenced to 15 years in prison. The three Cubans released in