Iran Scandal Indictments : Col. North, Adm. Poindexter, Secord, Hakim Charged : Conspiracy to Defraud U.S. Cited

WASHINGTON —  A federal grand jury today indicted former national security adviser John Poindexter, Lt. Col. Oliver North and two arms dealers on conspiracy charges in the diversion of Iranian arms sales profits to the Nicaraguan Contra rebels in the most sweeping criminal prosecution of White House officials since the Watergate scandal.

The long-awaited 23-count indictment--which also named retired Air Force Maj. Gen. Richard V. Secord and his business partner, Albert Hakim--culminated a 14-month grand jury investigation into the arms-for-hostages deals with Iran and the diversion of profits to the Nicaraguan rebels at a time when Congress banned direct U.S. military aid to the Contras.

The action, climaxing the investigation by independent counsel Lawrence Walsh, marks the worst scandal of the Reagan Administration.

The indictment variously charged the defendants with conspiracy to defraud the United States, theft of government property, obstruction of justice, false statements, falsification, destruction and removal of documents.

North Named in 16 Counts

North, whose firing triggered the scandal, is named in 16 of the counts. Nine counts charging him with obstruction of Congress, making false statements, obstructing the presidential inquiry into the Iran-Contra affair in November, 1986, and concealing, falsifying or destroying official documents.

Poindexter was named in two counts of obstructing a congressional inquiry and two other counts of false statements.

Hakim and Secord, among other things, were charged with conspiracy to pay illegal gratuities to North and his family to further the sale of arms to Iran so that Secord and Hakim “would continue to receive opportunities for substantial revenues and profits” from “lucrative activities referred to them by North and facilitated by him.”

This charge listed a series of two payments totaling $16,000 to security expert, Glenn Robinette, who installed a security system at North’s home in Great Falls, Va.

The three counts in which all four were charged--conspiracy to defraud the United States and commit offenses against the government, theft of government property and wire fraud arising from the diversion of the arms sale proceeds--carry together maximum penalties of 25 years’ imprisonment. Each charge carries a maximum fine of $250,000.

Outlines of Scandal Known

Each of the obstruction and false statement charges against North and Poindexter carries a five-year sentence and $250,000 fine.

The destruction of documents charge against North carries a three-year term.

The general outlines of the Iran-Contra scandal have already come to light in testimony by all the principals at Congress’s televised hearings into the scandal last year.

Rear Adm. Poindexter, who has since retired from the Navy, resigned as national security adviser, and his aide, Marine Lt. Col. North, was fired in November, 1986, after the arms sales and diversion of the profits were disclosed.

Hakim, an Iranian-born American businessman, and Secord, North’s top outside lieutenant in the affair, ran at North’s behest a secret operation dubbed “the Enterprise” that supplied arms to the Contras at a time when Congress had banned U.S. military aid to the rebels.

Last week, former national security adviser Robert C. McFarlane, pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges that he withheld information from Congress in 1985 and in 1986 about covert Administration efforts to help the Contras during the ban on direct U.S. military aid.