2 Oklahomans Indicted for Conspiring to Kill Ortega

Two Oklahoma men conspired to assassinate Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega, claiming that an unidentified backer had put up $5 million to finance a paramilitary mission to Central America, federal authorities said in an indictment unsealed Thursday.

The indictment said that one of the men contacted the office of Rep. Phillip M. Crane (R-Ill.) for information about travel restrictions to Honduras, which borders Nicaragua. But Crane and U.S. attorney Layn Phillips both said that the congressman was not aware of the purpose of the inquiries and had cooperated with an FBI investigation.

The indictment charged that Donnell Howard, 35, of Maysville and John Norris, 30, of Purcell conspired between Dec. 1 and Jan. 29 to kill Ortega.

Norris is awaiting arraignment before a magistrate in Oklahoma City and Howard remained at large Thursday, officials said.

Phillips said there was no indication that the defendants were members of any organization or that they actually had the financial backing they allegedly described.

“The indictment in this case, in essence, alleges a plan by two individuals, who arguably can be characterized as vigilantes, to take the law in their own hands,” Phillips said outside the Tulsa federal courthouse.

Crane said in an interview in Washington that Norris gave the impression of having “seen too many ‘Rambo’ movies,” adding that he “struck me as a kid fantasizing” and that he “didn’t sound responsible.”

Howard has a record of arrests for public drunkenness and marijuana possession, Police Chief Dennis Purkhiser of Maysville said.

Howard’s mother, Louise Howard, said her son flew to California last month to find work.

The defendants allegedly planned a reconnaissance mission to Honduras and made other arrangements to carry out the plot, but they did not go to Central America, the indictment said.

Ortega, 40, has headed Nicaragua’s government since 1979, first as leader of the Sandinista junta that took power upon the overthrow of dictator Anastasio Somoza and, since 1985, as elected president. He shares power with eight other Sandinista commanders who collectively make policy decisions for the government, which is opposed by the U.S.-backed contra guerrillas.

Phillips said the men tried to recruit “several individuals” with military background “from the Oklahoma area and specifically some from the Tulsa area.”