Mr. Harrelson's wife, Jo Ann, was found guilty of conspiracy to obstruct justice, the only charge against her in this case. His wife received a total of 25 years on the conspiracy and perjury charges; Elizabeth received 30 years on the conspiracy and tax evasion charges. She recovered quickly and later said she was fine. According to the Jahns, Harrelson offered to kill people suspected of killing Jimmys older brother, attorney Lee Chagra, who was murdered in his El Paso law office two days before Christmas in 1978. He was a cheat, he was a con man and he was a murderer. Harrelson said that Kay had about $135,000 of the payoff money delivered to him by Elizabeth Chagra as part of the scam. Mr. Chagra testified not only that Mr. Harrelson had told him he had killed Judge Wood, but also that his brother had suggested killing the judge and had identified Mr. Harrelson as the man he paid to do so. Three years later, after moving to the Harrelson Center, we have a staff of 18 and are serving some 1500 people. The Harrelson Center has provided us with affordable rent, a safe and comfortable space to host volunteers, board meetings and support groups, and a wonderful event space to host larger events. Jimmy told me he was never going to get a fair trial and asked if I thought he should try having Judge Wood killed, Joe Chagra testified, according to newspaper stories at the time. By the time the first indictments came down in April 1982, the FBI had conducted more than 30,000 interviews and collected more than 500,000 pieces of information. Joe was a genuinely nice guy who was congenitally unable to say no. The center supports its partners with below-market rental rates that cover all utilities, parking and security. Chagra made frequent trips to Las Vegas, arriving with suitcases stuffed with millions of dollars in cash. Jimmy Chagra, the high-stakes gambler who faced sentencing by Wood in a drug case shortly before the judge was killed, was cleared of conspiracy. 23 Feb. 2023 . There was a lot of internal pressure.. After invoking the Image of Jimmy Chagra in handcuffs courtesy of the Las Vegas Review-Journal. The citys first zoo featured animals from Texas and Mexico but no giraffe. Defendants: Charles Voyde Harrelson, Jo Ann Starr Harrelson, Elizabeth Chagra, Jamiel ChagraCrimes Charged: Charles Harrelson: conspiracy to murder; murder of a federal judge; conspiracy to obstruct justice. On the basis of the wiretaps, the FBI searched Joes home, turning up not only his private stash of drugs but also the map Harrelson had given him. Since much of the wiretapping was inadmissible in court, the government had a major problem with its case: The only witness who could connect Jimmy with Harrelson was Joe. Goodman recognized the error of their plan when the trees in the scale model had no leaves on them. See the article in its original context from. The $450,000 they took from the office safe was money Jimmy owed to mob boss Joe Bonanno, Sr., for a busted drug deal. Therefore, that information is unavailable for most Encyclopedia.com content. Our incoming donations used to be 70% used items. Harrelson, 69, died of a heart attack in March 2007 in a federal maximum-security prison in Colorado. SAN ANTONIO, Texas -- A convicted hit man's wife Monday won a first round in her battle with federal prosecutors who want her jailed for refusing to testify against her husband in the probe of the slaying of a federal judge. He could have gone unnoticed for a long time, but he couldnt resist going to Las Vegas to see a cosmetic surgeon. Now, perhaps due to our improved stature, our incoming donations are 80% new! Here, we have shared resources, funding, and space with the Center just bringing it all together. Wood was shot in the back with a high-powered rifle while leaving his north San Antonio townhouse for work. If he didnt concoct a lie about how he was really part of the conspiracy, thus allowing him to testify against Harrelson, he believed he would face a total of thirty-five to forty years on drug charges. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. The prosecution produced no murder weapon or any eyewitnesses. The real shock, however, was yet to come: The FBI was bugging Harrelsons celland also the visitors room at Leavenworth, where Joe was routinely subjected to Jimmys abuse. In the 1970s, Jimmy Chagra was the marijuana kingpin of the Western world. On This Day: Frances Perkins sworn in as first female Cabinet member. Federal authorities claimed that attorney-client privileges did not protect conversations between Joseph and Jamiel Chagra, because Joseph (the attorney) was himself a suspect in the conspiracy to conceal the crime. Joseph Chagra did not testify. In an unsuccessful effort to try to free his wife early from her 30-year sentence, Chagra later admitted to his role in the conspiracy to murder Wood and agreed to testify against people who had tried to kill James Kerr, a federal prosecutor who had initially obtained drug-trafficking indictments against Jimmy Chagra and battled repeatedly in court with Lee Chagra. The investigation cost more than $11 million, at the time the most extensive investigation in the bureaus history. '', It was at a pretrial hearing on April 2, 1979, as he listened to Judge Wood deny a score of defense motions, that Jamiel Chagra turned to Joseph Salim Chagra, his brother and attorney, and said, according to Joseph Chagra's testimony later, ''that he was never going to have a fair trial and if I thought he should have Judge Wood killed.''. He agreed to testify against Mr. Harrelson and pleaded guilty to conspiracy in return for a 10-year prison sentence and relief from having to testify against Jimmy. Jack Sheehan calls him the Pablo Escobar of weed. I got to know Joe well in the two years I was writing my book on the Wood assassination, Dirty Dealing, and I watched the sordid story unfold through his eyes. By that time the FBI investigation into the judges assassination was more than two years old. But do note that it is not possible to be certain of a person's genealogy without a family's cooperation (and/or DNA testing). "The Judge Wood Murder Case." Noah Harrelson{ "@context": "http://schema.org", "@type": "Person", "name": "Noah Harrelson", "gender": "Male" }, Beckie Harrelson{ "@context": "http://schema.org", "@type": "Person", "name": "Beckie Harrelson", "gender": "Female" }, Joel Sparks{ "@context": "http://schema.org", "@type": "Person", "name": "Joel Sparks", "gender": "Male" }, Lemma Sparks{ "@context": "http://schema.org", "@type": "Person", "name": "Lemma Sparks", "gender": "Female" }, Voyde Harrelson{ "@context": "http://schema.org", "@type": "Person", "name": "Voyde Harrelson", "gender": "Male" }, Alma Glover{ "@context": "http://schema.org", "@type": "Person", "name": "Alma Glover", "gender": "Female" }, Daisy Harrelson{ "@context": "http://schema.org", "@type": "Person", "name": "Daisy Harrelson", "gender": "Female" }, Leonard Humphrey Harrelson{ "@context": "http://schema.org", "@type": "Person", "name": "Leonard Humphrey Harrelson", "gender": "Male" }, Claude Elegan Harrelson{ "@context": "http://schema.org", "@type": "Person", "name": "Claude Elegan Harrelson", "gender": "Male" }, Sybil Nunley{ "@context": "http://schema.org", "@type": "Person", "name": "Sybil Nunley", "gender": "Female" }, Edward Leon Harrelson{ "@context": "http://schema.org", "@type": "Person", "name": "Edward Leon Harrelson", "gender": "Male" }, Woody Harrelson{ "@context": "http://schema.org", "@type": "Person", "name": "Woody Harrelson", "gender": "Male" }, with Diane Harrelson{ "@context": "http://schema.org", "@type": "Person", "name": "Diane Harrelson", "gender": "Female" }, Jordan Harrelson{ "@context": "http://schema.org", "@type": "Person", "name": "Jordan Harrelson", "gender": "Male" }, Brett Harrelson{ "@context": "http://schema.org", "@type": "Person", "name": "Brett Harrelson", "gender": "Male" }, born 1963, age 55 He built a marijuana and cocaine smuggling operation with connections to Colombia and Mexico. Joe Chagra ended up serving 6 years of his 10-year sentence, and he died in a car crash in El Paso in 1996 after his release. At least two grand juries have investigated the slaying for more than two years, and U.S. Attorney General William Webster last March said indictments were near, but no charges have been levied in the case. The government indicted Harrelson, the Chagra brothers, Jo Ann Harrelson and Jimmy Chagras wife, Elizabeth, who delivered the $250,000 payoff for Charles Harrelson. Prosecutors made a diorama of Woods condo complex to show how the murder occurred. See the article in its original context from. Midland was in the jurisdiction of U.S. District Judge John Wood, known as Maximum John for his tough prison sentences in drug cases. But they would have had leaves on them at the time of the murder, rendering the witness testimony not credible. We report on vital issues from politics to education and are the indispensable authority on the Texas scene, covering everything from music to cultural events with insightful recommendations. But theres a postscript: I feel certain that the youngest of three brothers in El Pasos infamous Chagra crime family knew nothing about Woods murder until months after the fact. The government efforts in the Wood case are not over. ." Chagra also was a prime suspect in the attempted murder of Assistant U.S. Attorney James Kerr of San Antonio. SHREVEPORT, La. The case was unique in that the courts all the way up the line blessed the decisions below, Campion said of appeals that followed. But Joe absolutely refused to testify against his brother as a matter of family honor. Wood died in 1979 when he was assassinated by Charles Harrelson. But he had some luck when the prosecutors decided to put criminal Jerry Ray James on the stand to testify against Chagra. On another visit Jimmy told Joe, Youre the one who said, Do it, do it, do it. Joe tried to conceal his shock by talking tough, saying he never thought his brother would hire an asshole like Harrelson. What finally did Joe in was his inability to stand up to Jimmy. ", Louise Hicks, Executive Director, Community In Schools of Cape Fear, "We are grateful for the resources and partners the Harrelson Center has introduced to us. Judge Wood denied any impropriety and refused to remove himself from the case. As of mid-2001, the appeal remained postponed. This is not a happy story for anybody. Because each style has its own formatting nuances that evolve over time and not all information is available for every reference entry or article, Encyclopedia.com cannot guarantee each citation it generates. The visiting room was bugged to gather information from mobster Nick Civella, also a Goodman client. Elizabeth Chagra, the wife of Jamiel (Jimmy) Chagra, the drug dealer who is to be tried in a separate proceeding on charges of paying Mr. Harrelson $250,000 to murder the judge, was found guilty of conspiracy to commit murder and conspiracy to obstruct justice. New York Times (December 15, 1982). But it also spotlighted allegations that federal investigators and prosecutors treaded on constitutional rights such as attorney-client and marital privilege and the secret recording of private conversations. Released in 1978, he married for a third time the next year, this time to Jo Ann Starr. On Christmas Eve 1978, two thugs robbed Lees law office and killed him. King, Wayne. Chagra asked Harrelson if Wood could be bribed. To cut costs, Amazon delays completion of second headquarters, closes retail stores. In a series of videotaped interviews after his release from prison, Chagra told Las Vegas author Jack Sheehan that his prosecution was the result of a beef Wood had against his older brother Lee. People with hearts to serve and love to give.thats what you will find at the Harrelson Center. He believed in the justice system, but it didnt do right by him., Do I feel like he got robbed? Joseph Chagra pled guilty to the charge of conspiracy to commit murder and received a sentence of ten years. On May 29, 1979, Judge John H. Wood was killed in San Antonio, Texas, by a shot from a high-powered rifle to the back of the head. Should you have information that conflicts with anything shown please make us aware by email. March 2 (UPI) -- A Maryland woman scored a $100,000 prize from a scratch-off lottery ticket less than 12 hours after she scored an $11,000 jackpot at a casino. Thursday, May 28: Oscars Case of the Century: The Life and Crimes of Jimmy Chagra Courtroom Conversations, Acquitted of hiring actor Woody Harrelsons dad to murder Judge Maximum John Wood, Got off on a once-in-a-lifetime miracle defense by attorney Oscar Goodman, Spearheaded one of the biggest drug-smuggling rings in the country, Bet millions and tipped big, a Las Vegas high roller, Had links to New Englands Patriarca crime family, Lived a life surrounded by mobsters, murder, career criminals and conspiracies, Journalist Jack Sheehan, who interviewed Chagra extensively, Moderator Geoff Schumacher, director of content at The Mob Museum. On Express-News.com: Judge Sarah Garrahan-Moulder, who helped prosecute hit man Charles Harrelson in San Antonio, dies at 84. Together we create higher quality programs, were better able to remove barriers, and we have more space to provide instruction with positive adult role models. ''I thought he should,'' Joseph Chagra said. . Daniel Vaughn is the countrys first barbecue editor, and he has eaten more barbecue than you have. It was then, the Government asserted, that ''the fear began. The trial is separate because Joseph Chagra, in exchange for a lighter sentence, made a deal with the Government to testify against all the defendants except his brother. You cant imagine the shock when Jimmy Chagra was acquitted.. Judge Wood, known as "maximum John" because of the heavy sentences he had imposed on drug dealers, had presided over the pretrial hearing of Jamiel Chagra, denying 20 defense motions. Jimmy Chagra was sentenced to 30 years for his original drug-trafficking charges, plus 10 years for the lesser charges he was convicted of when he was tried for the Wood murder. Texas Lege Watch: A House Republican Fights for Chicken Freedom, Texas Monthly Recognized by ASME in the 2023 National Magazine Awards. The desire to give and serve others stems from a place of earnest compassion. Jos R. Ralat is Texas Monthlys taco editor, writing about tacos and Mexican food. In effect, he was being tried for murder, when he claimed that his only involvement was in a con-game to get the murder pay-off money for a killing performed by someone else. ", Cindy Moore,Quality Services Director, GHA Autism Supports, "The Center has been such a big part of our growth and development providing us with a solid home base and a network of valuable partners.". The sensational case resulted in a book, Dirty Dealings, by the late journalist Gary Cartwright, television crime dramas and a mention at Las Vegas Mob Museum. WHEN FIFTY-YEAR-OLD JOE CHAGRA flipped his Toyota Landcruiser on Interstate 10 west of El Paso in December, killing himself and two passengers, it was a sad final chapter in the life of a man best known as one of the conspirators in the 1979 murder of San Antonio federal judge John Wood. As a matter of fact, when I got arrested, I thought I could buy Judge Wood off, and I tried through a family member by offering $5 million or $10 million. (February 23, 2023). Three reputed Chicago mobsters were convicted in September 2007 for their involvement in a series o, To make a decision or reach a conclusion after examining all the factual evidence presented. Jo Ann Harrelson: guilty of conspiracy to obstruct justice, perjury. WebJo Ann Harrelson's in laws: All relationship and family history information shown on FameChain has been compiled from data in the public domain. Jo Ann Harrelson was convicted of conspiracy to obstruct justice and later convicted of five counts of perjury. "Three Are Found Guilty of Assassination of Federal Judge." Woody Harrelson funded his fathers appeals, enlisting the aid of controversial . March 3 (UPI) -- Firefighters in Britain responded to a home to rescue a horse that had fallen into its owner's swimming pool and was unable to get itself out. The defense sought a change of venue, but the requests were denied. Mrs. Harrelson bought the rifle under a fictitious name, Fay King, or faking. I know, of course, that on the witness stand Joe testified that he counseled his brother Jimmy to order the hit, and I know he did time in federal prison. Rob Condon, Executive Director, Young Scientists Academy, "We have been at the Harrelson Center for 3 years and it's been a dream come true! But his wife was not released and died of ovarian cancer at age 41. The gun rap seemed routine until Harrelson was arrested following a cocaine-induced standoff near Van Horn, at which time his motive became clear. -- Jo Ann Harrelson, a former Las Vegas gambler and wife of the hitman convicted of killing a federal judge, was found guilty of perjury -- the Governor of Philippine province, 5 others killed in gun attack. This synergistic environment allows all the nonprofits to operate more efficiently and better utilize their funding. Jo Ann Harrelson was found guilty of conspiracy to obstruct justice. Woody Harrelson, the actor who played the part of the affable bartender in the television series Cheers, and also the lead in The People vs. Larmy Flynt, mounted an appeal in 1998, hiring famed criminal attorney Alan Dershowitz. Kathryn Wood, the widow of the slain judge, provided a five-page handwritten letter from Elizabeth Chagra, apologizing for her involvement in the murder. May 29, 1979: Wood was shot to death outside his San Antonio condo. https://www.encyclopedia.com/law/law-magazines/charles-harrelson-trial-1982-83, "Charles Harrelson Trial: 1982-83 Without his brother's testimony, Jamiel was acquitted of conspiracy to murder charges. Space-X continues to reach for the stars. March 4 (UPI) -- Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu made a rare visit to frontline troops in Ukraine on Saturday as Kyiv's grip on the embattled city of Bakhmut appeared to be slipping. The Museum is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with a mission to advance the public understanding of organized crime's history and impact on American society. Charles Harrelson's son, the actor Woody Harrelson, later supported a motion for a retrial, based on both the inadequacy of the original defense and the federal government's methods of gathering evidence. WebJo Ann Harrelson and Elizabeth Chagra Arriving at Court. Time (October 25, 1982). But I believe Joe made up those stories as part of a deal with the prosecution, and so do many others close to the case. Jo Ann had purchased the rifle under a false name, Mrs. "Fay King." Jamiel Chagra's trial moved to Jacksonville, Florida. In the investigation, which cost at least $5 million, the Government recorded more than 1,000 conversations, most of them by telephone, that Jamiel Chagra was involved in at various prisons, particularly the United States Penitentiary in Leavenworth, Kan. Within the Cite this article tool, pick a style to see how all available information looks when formatted according to that style. Joseph Chagra accepted a plea bargain. 3 children killed, 2 hospitalized in North Texas domestic incident. Elizabeth Chagra died in prison of ovarian cancer in September 1997 at age 43. Jimmy Chagra broached the matter again in early May 1979 as the brothers walked on the lawn of Jimmys Las Vegas home, Joe Chagra testified. They pulled out all the stops. In 1995, he appeared as himself in the movie, Casino.. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Jimmy's trial was scheduled to begin on the day the judge died. Whats Up With All the Kangaroos on the Loose in Texas? Jimmy Chagra, who was facing numerous narcotics charges, would become a suspect in the killing. Almost immediately, investigators turned to Mr. Chagra's plush law offices. Jamiel Chagra was acquitted of murder and conspiracy to murder but convicted of conspiracy to obstruct justice and conspiracy to possess marijuana; he was later convicted of tax evasion. But Chagra and Harrelson werent immediate suspects, and it took thousands of man-hours before they were identified as such. The collaborations and friendships are blessings to me and to our organization. Once he paid off a cocktail waitress $50,000 mortgage when he heard she was raising three kids on her own. Oscar Goodman and Joe Chagra were Jimmys attorneys. Bring on the Shiplap. Florida woman runs ultra-marathon distances for 23 consecutive days. Defendants: Charles Manson, Susan Atkins, Patricia Krenwinkel, Leslie Van Houten They also argued, unsuccessfully, that incriminating recorded conversations should not have been allowed because they were covered by attorney-client privilege or by spousal privilege.

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