Winging their way to Sin City in 2001, Nicholas and his entourage generated so much marijuana smoke that it billowed into the cockpit, "requiring the pilot flying the plane to put on an oxygen mask," according to a federal grand jury indictment made public Thursday.

The indictment, issued under seal a day earlier, accused Nicholas of doling out drugs and prostitutes as part of a free-wheeling lifestyle.

A second indictment accused Nicholas of manipulating stock options at Broadcom, the Irvine-based maker of computer chips used in products including Apple Inc.'s iPhone and Nintendo Wii consoles.

Broadcom co-founder Henry Samueli was not charged, but was referred to as an "unindicted co-conspirator" in the stock options indictment, which identified him by his initials.

The two founded Broadcom in 1991. They are among the best-known entrepreneurs in Southern California, having helped shape Orange County's modern image as a technology magnet.

The Securities and Exchange Commission last month accused Samueli and Nicholas of backdating stock options to make them more valuable, leading Samueli to step aside as Broadcom chairman pending resolution of the case.

Samueli, who also owns the National Hockey League's Anaheim Ducks, has denied any wrongdoing.

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