Oscar Danilo Blandón | |
---|---|
Born | Oscar Danilo Blandón Reyes July 29, 1951 [1] |
Occupation | Drug trafficker |
Criminal charge(s) | Drug trafficking, arms trafficking |
Criminal penalty | 24 months |
Oscar Danilo Blandón Reyes (born July 29, 1951 [1]) is a Nicaraguan born drug trafficker who is best known as one of the main subjects of the 1996 newspaper series "Dark Alliance" by reporter Gary Webb.
Blandón was originally a director of agricultural markets in Nicaragua during the government of Anastasio Somoza. When the Somoza regime was overthrown in 1979, Blandón fled to the United States, [2] and then raised money for the Nicaraguan Democratic Force (FDN), a Contra group. As part of his fundraising activities Blandón began selling cocaine. Eventually Blandón became a major cocaine trafficker in the Los Angeles area. [3]
In May 1992, Blandón was arrested in San Diego on the federal charge of "conspiracy to possess cocaine with intent to distribute." [4] In prison awaiting trial, Blandón began cooperating with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in a number of drug cases. In a plea agreement, Blandón agreed to continue cooperating with the government in exchange for a substantial sentence reduction. Eventually Blandón was sentenced to 48 months. [4] In order to facilitate Blandón's work as an informant, the government further requested a reduction in Blandón's sentence to time served. Following his imprisonment, Blandón worked for the DEA as a confidential informant. He worked for the DEA to take down drug kingpin Rick Ross in a sting operation, for which Ross was convicted in 1997. [5] [6]
In the 2014 film Kill the Messenger, Blandón was portrayed by actor Yul Vazquez.
{{
cite book}}
: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (
link)
Oscar Danilo Blandón | |
---|---|
Born | Oscar Danilo Blandón Reyes July 29, 1951 [1] |
Occupation | Drug trafficker |
Criminal charge(s) | Drug trafficking, arms trafficking |
Criminal penalty | 24 months |
Oscar Danilo Blandón Reyes (born July 29, 1951 [1]) is a Nicaraguan born drug trafficker who is best known as one of the main subjects of the 1996 newspaper series "Dark Alliance" by reporter Gary Webb.
Blandón was originally a director of agricultural markets in Nicaragua during the government of Anastasio Somoza. When the Somoza regime was overthrown in 1979, Blandón fled to the United States, [2] and then raised money for the Nicaraguan Democratic Force (FDN), a Contra group. As part of his fundraising activities Blandón began selling cocaine. Eventually Blandón became a major cocaine trafficker in the Los Angeles area. [3]
In May 1992, Blandón was arrested in San Diego on the federal charge of "conspiracy to possess cocaine with intent to distribute." [4] In prison awaiting trial, Blandón began cooperating with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in a number of drug cases. In a plea agreement, Blandón agreed to continue cooperating with the government in exchange for a substantial sentence reduction. Eventually Blandón was sentenced to 48 months. [4] In order to facilitate Blandón's work as an informant, the government further requested a reduction in Blandón's sentence to time served. Following his imprisonment, Blandón worked for the DEA as a confidential informant. He worked for the DEA to take down drug kingpin Rick Ross in a sting operation, for which Ross was convicted in 1997. [5] [6]
In the 2014 film Kill the Messenger, Blandón was portrayed by actor Yul Vazquez.
{{
cite book}}
: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (
link)