Oscar Danilo Blandon
Encyclopedia
Oscar Danilo Blandón Reyes (born 1936) headed Nicaragua
's agricultural imports under Anastasio Somoza
. He has a master's degree
in marketing
. When the Somoza government was overthrown in 1979, Blandón fled to the United States, and then raised money for the Nicaraguan Democratic Force
(FDN), a Contra
group. According to many sources, including reporter Gary Webb
, Blandón sold drugs and weapons (via Ronald Lister) to the Crips
in Los Angeles. Blandón claimed that the Central Intelligence Agency
protected him, allowing him to operate without fear of reprisal.
Blandón was arrested on drug charges in 1986 by the FBI
. In May 1992, Blandón was convicted in US District Court (San Diego) on the federal charge of "conspiracy to possess cocaine with intent to distribute." He was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison, but was released due to time served. Blandón was a major drug trafficker, famously supplying Ricky Ross
with millions of dollars worth of cocaine on a daily basis.
Following his imprisonment, Blandón was hired by the Drug Enforcement Agency and salaried at $42,000. Blandon was not a US Citizen/National, and is the only known foreigner to not be deported following conviction on drug trafficking charges in US History. The INS granted Blandón a green card, despite the criminal convictions, to allow him to work for the DEA. The DEA claims that Blandón is no longer on their payroll, and his whereabouts are unknown.
Nicaragua
Nicaragua is the largest country in the Central American American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country is situated between 11 and 14 degrees north of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, which places it entirely within the tropics. The Pacific Ocean...
's agricultural imports under Anastasio Somoza
Anastasio Somoza
Anastasio Somoza may be:Nicaraguan dictators:* Anastasio Somoza García, * Anastasio Somoza Debayle, Also:* Anastasio Somoza Portocarrero, son of Somoza Debayle...
. He has a master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
in marketing
Marketing
Marketing is the process used to determine what products or services may be of interest to customers, and the strategy to use in sales, communications and business development. It generates the strategy that underlies sales techniques, business communication, and business developments...
. When the Somoza government was overthrown in 1979, Blandón fled to the United States, and then raised money for the Nicaraguan Democratic Force
Nicaraguan Democratic Force
The Nicaraguan Democratic Force was one of the earliest Contra groups, formed on August 11, 1981 in Guatemala City. It was formed to oppose Nicaragua's revolutionary Sandinista government following the 1979 overthrow of Anastasio Somoza Debayle...
(FDN), a Contra
Contras
The contras is a label given to the various rebel groups opposing Nicaragua's FSLN Sandinista Junta of National Reconstruction government following the July 1979 overthrow of Anastasio Somoza Debayle's dictatorship...
group. According to many sources, including reporter Gary Webb
Gary Webb
Gary Webb was a Pulitzer prize-winning American investigative journalist.Webb was best known for his 1996 "Dark Alliance" series of articles written for the San Jose Mercury News and later published as a book...
, Blandón sold drugs and weapons (via Ronald Lister) to the Crips
Crips
The Crips are a primarily, but not exclusively, African American gang. They were founded in Los Angeles, California, in 1969 mainly by Raymond Washington and Stanley Williams...
in Los Angeles. Blandón claimed that the Central Intelligence Agency
Central Intelligence Agency
The Central Intelligence Agency is a civilian intelligence agency of the United States government. It is an executive agency and reports directly to the Director of National Intelligence, responsible for providing national security intelligence assessment to senior United States policymakers...
protected him, allowing him to operate without fear of reprisal.
Blandón was arrested on drug charges in 1986 by the FBI
Federal Bureau of Investigation
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is an agency of the United States Department of Justice that serves as both a federal criminal investigative body and an internal intelligence agency . The FBI has investigative jurisdiction over violations of more than 200 categories of federal crime...
. In May 1992, Blandón was convicted in US District Court (San Diego) on the federal charge of "conspiracy to possess cocaine with intent to distribute." He was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison, but was released due to time served. Blandón was a major drug trafficker, famously supplying Ricky Ross
Ricky Ross (drug trafficker)
Ricky Donnell Ross , also known as "Freeway" Rick Ross, is a convicted drug trafficker best known for the "drug empire" that he presided over in Los Angeles, California, in the early-1980s...
with millions of dollars worth of cocaine on a daily basis.
Following his imprisonment, Blandón was hired by the Drug Enforcement Agency and salaried at $42,000. Blandon was not a US Citizen/National, and is the only known foreigner to not be deported following conviction on drug trafficking charges in US History. The INS granted Blandón a green card, despite the criminal convictions, to allow him to work for the DEA. The DEA claims that Blandón is no longer on their payroll, and his whereabouts are unknown.
External links
- CIA report on allegations (archive.org archive of cia.gov)