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.
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.
In a plea agreement, Blandón agreed to continue cooperating with the government in exchange for a substantial sentence reduction.