WITNESS IN CONTRA PROBE DIES

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90-00552R000303240002-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 28, 2010
• Sequence Number: 2
• Publication Date: December 14, 1986
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/07/28: CIA-RDP90-00552R000303240002-9
Mj_ .hRED
ARTICLE _APPF
ON PAGE .
Witness
in contra
probe dies
By Stephen Kurkjian
Globe Staff
WASHINGTON -A key witness
in a federal probe Into gunrun-
ning and possible violations of US
neutrality law by a group of sol-
diers of fortune supporting Nica-
raguan rebels died of a suspected
drug overdose yesterday in Van
Nuys. Calif.
Steven Carr. 27. of Naples. Fla.,
was oun ea in the driveway of
his sister's house at 4:05 a.m..
said an official of the Los Angeles
County Coroner's office.
Investigator M. Riddle said the
cause of death was "suspected
drug overdose - cocaine." He de-
clined to answer further questions
pending an autopsy today.
Carr's lawver.Gerry Berry, of
Naples. Fla., Said In a telephone
Interview yesterday that while he
did not know the circumstances of
Carr's death. "It's suspicious to
me that he would die of an over-
dose. "
Berry said he knew that Carr
"dabbled" in drugs. but he knew ;
his way around and he'd not mess
with anything that he couldn't
handle."
Berry said he last saw his cli-
ent shortly after Carr was released
from a Florida prison in early No-
vember after serving about seven
months on a probation violation.
govestie rs from the US attorney s
office in Miami had questioned
Carr on several occasions about
trips Carr had made to Central
America In 1984 and 1985.
Carr and four other self-de-
scribed soldiers of fortune helping
to train Nicaraguan rebels were
captured in northern Costa Rica
in April 1985 and charged with
possession of explosives and dis-
turbing the civil peace.
Carr remained in a Costa Ri-
can prison awaiting trial for near-
ly a year. He was released on ball
last spring and returned to Flor-
ida.
While in prl}on, Carr said In
separate Interviews with the
Globe and other news organiza-
14 December 1986
dons that he and other Americans
had fought on behalf of the rebels
in military raids. Carr also said
that he and others had helped col-
lect tons of military supplies In
southern Florida, which were
flown to the rebels, called contras.
in Central America In 1985.
The US attorney's office In Mi-
ami, after seeing accounts of
Carr's interviews, sent a prosecu-
tor and an FBI agent to Costa Rica
to interview Carr.
Berry said those Interviews
continued "for some time. it was
obvious they were Interested In
what he had to say, but I don't
know how close anyone was to In-
dictments. "
The US attorney's office In Mi-
ami could not be reached for com-
ment, but an office spokesman
said recently that she expected
charges to be filed In the case
very soon."
The Purpose of the Investiga-
tion was to determine whether
there had been an organized at-
tempt to send military supplies
and assistance to the rebels after
Congress had cut off such aid In
October 1984, and whether US
government officials participated
In the effort.
One of Carr's colleagues, still in
prison In Costa Rica. told report-
ers that he had discussed such co-
vert aid with Robert Owen, a State
Department consultant and close
friend of Lt. Col. Oliver L. North.
who was fired last month as a na-
tional security aide for his role in
the Iran arms-contra scandal.
Owen refused to answer ques-
tions about his work in Central
America on behalf of the Nicara-
guan rebels when he appeared be-
fore the Senate Intelligence Com-
mittee last week.
Carr said the private Ameri-
cans who recruited him told him
the Central Intelligence Agency
was coordinating their work In
Central America. The CIA, which
was prohibited at the time from
engaging in military activities for
the rebels, denied the charge.
Carr, however, has denied the
assertion of one of his acquaint-
ances that their group had
planned to assault on the US em-
bassy in San Jose, Costa Rica.
and blame the action on the Nicar-
agua's ruling Sandinista govern-
ment.
Carr has also been interview
by aides to Sen. John F. Kerrv
who for more than a year
been investigating alleged viols
dons of law by the rebels and thet
supporters.
A representative of Kerrv's of-
flce said yesterday that informa-
tion from the taped interviews
would be given to the Senate For-
eign Relations Committee. wF?ch
AS PURt_IgNrr)
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/07/28: CIA-RDP90-00552R000303240002-9