Oscar Danilo Blandón headed Nicaragua's agricultural imports under Anastasio Somoza. He had 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 FDN (an early Contra group). According to many sources, including reporter Gary Webb, Blandón sold drugs and weapons (via Ronald Lister ) to the Crips in Los Angeles, and the Central Intelligence Agency turned a blind eye.