I told him he should.. Sessions, who ordered a majority of the contempt hearing closed to the public, said during an interview with the news media in his chambers that Mrs. Harrelson's claim of marital privilege was the reason forpartial dismissal of the government's request. On the morning of May 29, 1979, Judge Wood, 63, was slain in the driveway of his town house in San Antonio, struck in the back by a bullet from a high-powered rifle. Governor of Philippine province, 5 others killed in gun attack. Even though every partner is To those of us who knew the situation, Jimmys assertion that Joe made him do it was ludicrous, but it fit neatly into the governments scenario. Jo Ann Harrelson Family Tree & History, Ancestry & Genealogy JERRY LARA, Staff / San Antonio Express-News. Former mayor of Las Vegas, Oscar Goodman is credited with the revitalization of downtown Las Vegas including The Smith Center for the Performing Arts and our very own The Mob Museum. Fire Ants Have Unleashed Chaos in Texas for Decades. '', 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.''. Charles Harrelson was born on July 23rd, 1938, in Lovelady, Texas, the son of Alma Lee (ne Sparks; 19072002) and Voyde Harrelson (19011976). Daniel's 5th outing as Bond gets bums back on seats in the cinema. Jimmy Chagras separate trial moved to Jacksonville, Florida. Copyright FameChain 2023, All rights reserved. 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. But unknown to Harrelson, the trial had been postponed, Ray Jahn said. killed Judge Wood in exchange for a promised $250,000 payment by Jamiel Chagra. He spent more than 35 years defending some of the most notorious alleged Mob figures, including Meyer Lansky, Frank Rosenthal, Anthony Spilotro and Jimmy Chagra. In death as in life, El Paso crime family scion Joe Chagra is getting a bad rap. 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. March 2 (UPI) -- A Florida woman earned a Guinness World Record when she completed 23 ultra-marathon runs -- 31.1 miles -- in a 23-day period. Joseph Chagra accepted a plea bargain. Harrelson's jury found him guilty of murder of a federal employee, and he was also convicted on the charges of conspiracy to commit murder and conspiracy to obstruct justice. Editor's note: This story originally published in a 2017 series honoring the 300th anniversary of San Antonio.A man named Bill Bannister registered at the Town House motel on Loop 410 on Memorial Day 1979. The defense sought a change of venue, but the requests were denied. Minnesota officer removes jar from raccoon's head. See FameChain's massive Trump family tree. Yes, Chagra Russell continued. One of his many screenplays details the life of notorious drug smuggler Jimmy Chagra. Joe was stunned. 'Justice Did Not Die'. Joseph Chagra pled guilty to the charge of conspiracy to commit murder and received a sentence of ten years. See the Elon Musk family tree here at FameChain. 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. British bus driver stops to give loose sheep a lift. Charles Harrelson arrives at Federal Court 11-8-82 for his trial in the slaying of federal judge Wood. CHAGRA: ASSASSINATION OF JUDGE JOHN WOOD AND LINKS TO CHARLES HARRELSON, FATHER OF WOODY. This is a digitized version of an article from The Timess print archive, before the start of online publication in 1996. But Chagra and Harrelson werent immediate suspects, and it took thousands of man-hours before they were identified as such. SHREVEPORT, La. The Center recognizes the critical needs of others and encourages, uplifts and assists them in rebuilding their lives through the services provided in the center. Reports suggest Prince Charles will live "in a flat above the shop" when he becomes king. There was a lot of internal pressure.. Judge Woods 1979 slaying by Charles Harrelson was crime of the Not wanting to put his family through a trial, Joe pleaded guilty to something he didnt do, Chagra Russell said. It was a David vs. Goliath battle. 10/19/1981 - Charles V. Harrelson, charged in the murder of U.S. District Judge John H. Wood, in court. Florida woman runs ultra-marathon distances for 23 consecutive days. The case has prompted Mrs. Harrelson to attempt suicide and caused her to temporarily disown her two daughters for having affairs with Harrelson during their marriage. At one point in a rambling dialogue, Jimmy warned Joe that he was up to his neck in the murder plot. Chagra also was a prime suspect in the attempted murder of Assistant U.S. Attorney James Kerr of San Antonio. Judge Wood hated my brother Lee so much that he wanted a Chagra any way he could get him, Chagra said, according to a clip of the interviews posted on the internet. 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. Jamiel Chagra: separate trial on murder, conspiracy to murder, conspiracy to obstruct justice; drug conspiracy and trafficking charges; separate indictment on income tax evasionChief Defense Lawyers: Charles Harrelson: Thomas G. Sharpe, Jr.; Jo Ann Harrelson: Charles Champion; Elizabeth Chagra: Warren Burnett; Jamiel Chagra: Oscar B. GoodmanChief Prosecutor: Ray JahnJudge: William SessionsPlaces: Charles Harrelson: San Antonio, Texas. 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. Most online reference entries and articles do not have page numbers. Explore how the celebrity world connects. He has also covered immigration, minority affairs and legal affairs as part of the projects team here and for other print, TV and radio outlets. WebJo Ann Harrelson's in laws: All relationship and family history information shown on FameChain has been compiled from data in the public domain. He told Joe about the contract and drew a map showing where he had hidden the murder rifle. Image of Jimmy Chagra in handcuffs courtesy of the Las Vegas Review-Journal. 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. I visited him several times, once with my wife, Phyllis. At the end of the hearing, Jamiel turned to his brother and attorney, Joseph Chagra, and said he would never have a fair trial. Talented With Cards. 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. He also testified that Mr. Kay borrowed his car, a gold-colored Oldsmobile Cutlass, similar to one seen speeding from the judge's apartment complex the morning of the slaying. According to newspaper stories citing trial testimony, a drug trafficker and flamboyant gambler originally from El Paso, Jamiel Jimmy Chagra, paid Harrelson $250,000 to kill Wood because Chagra feared a trial and sentencing by Maximum John. Wood earned the moniker for his reputation of giving tough sentences to drug traffickers. In his testimony over more than five days on the witness stand, Mr. Harrelson said he had gone to lure Jamiel Chagra into a crooked card game. March 4 (UPI) -- On March 4, 1933, Frances Perkins was sworn in as U.S. labor secretary, becoming the first female member of the Cabinet. A short time later, Joe was arrested and held without bail, as were Jo Ann The gun rap seemed routine until Harrelson was arrested following a cocaine-induced standoff near Van Horn, at which time his motive became clear. He gave us details that only he knew, Ray Jahn said. Leave them blank to get signed up. 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. Mrs. Harrelson, 42, a small, blond woman who was once a known 'card counter' at Las Vegas blackjack tables, collapsed moments after hearing the verdict Monday. Jo Ann got a 25-year sentence. ", receiving assistance and guidance at Help Hub, "Being a partner of the Harrelson Center has allowed Soaring As Eagles to soar even higher than before. Assistant U.S. Attorney James Kerr, who had prosecuted several drug cases before Judge Wood, had barely escaped an assassination attempt some six months before Wood was killed. Harrelson said that Kay had about $135,000 of the payoff money delivered to him by Elizabeth Chagra as part of the scam. Just after Judge Wood was killed, Joseph Chagra, then 31, said the slaying was the worst thing that could have happened to his other brother, Jamiel, 32, who was known as Jimmy. However, there was no physical evidence and investigators had to rely on circumstantial evidence and informants. Joes testimony put Harrelson in prison for life; ironically, in his separate trial, Jimmy was acquitted, thanks largely to Joes unwillingness to testify against him. As of mid-2001, the appeal remained postponed. 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. Therefore, that information is unavailable for most Encyclopedia.com content. On May 29, 1979, Wood was shot dead in the parking lot outside his San Antonio townhouse. It killed U.S. District Judge John H. Wood Jr. the first federal judge to be assassinated in the country. But he had some luck when the prosecutors decided to put criminal Jerry Ray James on the stand to testify against Chagra. Mrs. Harrelson faces up to 25 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. Almost immediately, investigators turned to Mr. Chagra's plush law offices. Good Fella Texas Monthly Now, perhaps due to our improved stature, our incoming donations are 80% new! Click here to Start FameChaining. He was serving a 30-year sentence there that he received on the drug charge that was to be tried before Judge Wood. By that time the FBI investigation into the judges assassination was more than two years old. Murder is perhaps the single most serious criminal offense. Support is He called himself ''a card mechanic'' so talented with a deck that he could deal any hands requested around a table. By the time the trial came around in 1983, Jimmy Chagras case had been severed from his co-defendants and Joe Chagra had taken a plea deal in which he pleaded guilty to the conspiracy to murder Wood. 'I have ordered the hearing continued and you can logically assume what that means,' Sessions said. The Jo Ann Carter Harrelson Center Inc. is a North Jo Ann, convicted of conspiracy to obstruct justice and perjury, was later paroled. She was previously convicted of using a Sessions will preside over the March 14 trial in Shreveport of Chagra, Mrs. Chagra, and Mrs. Chagra's father, Leon Nichols, on tax evasion charges. Jack Sheehan has been living and writing in Las Vegas for 40 years. They werent taking no for an answer, defense lawyer Brown said. Since arriving, our vision has become reality. ", Emilie Hart, Regional Director for the Cape Fear Chapter of Catholic Charities, Diocese of Raleigh, "As other partners joined the Center, CIS was able to connect our families to more resources. Judge Sessions gave Chagra only 10 additional years on his sentence, making him eligible for parole in 2007. Jimmy's trial was scheduled to begin on the day the judge died. Charles wife at the time, ", Missy Bennett, Executive Director, Operation Pretty Things, "The Harrelson Center really provides a unique opportunity to serve people holistically. King, Wayne. Lee considered Joe his property and took what he wanted, including Joes first serious girlfriend. Joe Chagra ended If you fill out the first name, last name, or agree to terms fields, you will NOT be added to the newsletter list. Jo Ann had purchased the rifle under a false name, Mrs. "Fay King." Donald asks the courts to let him tweet. The case was unique in that the courts all the way up the line blessed the decisions below, Campion said of appeals that followed. Occasionally the digitization process introduces transcription errors or other problems; we are continuing to work to improve these archived versions. Harrelson was sentenced to two consecutive life terms plus five years, while Jo Ann Harrelson got a combined 25 years for obstruction of justice. In 1995, he appeared as himself in the movie, Casino.. Texas Lege Watch: A House Republican Fights for Chicken Freedom, Texas Monthly Recognized by ASME in the 2023 National Magazine Awards. The center supports its partners with below-market rental rates that cover all utilities, parking and security. Elizabeth Chagra was convicted of conspiracy to murder and conspiracy to obstruct justice. ", Anne Best, Executive Director, Family Promise, The truest measure of love is revealed by how we respond to the needs of others. Adding further to their indignation, the trial was presided over by then-federal Judge William Sessions, who was a pallbearer at Woods funeral and delivered a eulogy, Campion said. US based Meghan and Harry.. FameChain has their amazing trees. 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. Kellyanne Conway and George Conway to divorce after 22 years of March 4 (UPI) -- Three children are dead and two others remain hospitalized Saturday after a domestic incident in a North Texas town, authorities said. People with hearts to serve and love to give.thats what you will find at the Harrelson Center. Over time, we became friends. Joseph Chagra did not testify. 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. ", -Stacy Pullen, Executive Director, Foster Pantry, Since moving to the Harrelson Center, "Instead of a family going all over town to receive different services, we can walk them to another agency down the hall to help them with anything they may need. Depen, Chicago Mobsters Convicted of Decades-Old Murders . Dozens killed, injured as Jakarta fuel depot fire engulfs neighborhood. In real life, it highlighted the criminal acts of those accused in Woods killing a drug lord, an actors father and some of their relatives. A few days later they returned a not-guilty verdict to the murder charge. 3 ARE FOUND GUILTY IN ASSASSINATION OF FEDERAL JUDGE, https://www.nytimes.com/1982/12/15/us/3-are-found-guilty-in-assassination-of-federal-judge.html. This is not a happy story for anybody. The prosecution charged that Harrelson, who had earlier served five years before being paroled of a 15-year sentence for killing a man for a $2,000 fee, Oscar Goodman and Joe Chagra were Jimmys attorneys. Patricia Sharpe writes a regular restaurant column, Pats Pick, for Texas Monthly. Woody Harrelson funded his fathers appeals, enlisting the aid of controversial Prosecutors said Mrs. Harrelson lied to FBI agents, to a grand jury and in her previous trial. Lee, his eldest brother, brought Joe into his law partnership largely to enhance his own self-esteem as patrn of the Chagra family. It's an amazing way to provide a warm handoff so that people have all of their needs served. Then, in the eight years after his release, Joe stayed clean and became a health nut. SHREVEPORT, La. On Feb. 26, 1979, he was indicted on five counts of trafficking in marijuana and cocaine. ", - Jim Everette, Harrelson Center Ex-Officio Board Member, We are all different parts, but part of the same body. However, she testified that her husband had stalked into the house after a hearing with the judge and vowed, ''I'm going to kill him.''. Harrelson argued that Kay's wife had purchased a Weatherby hunting rifle of the type used to kill the judge some 12 days before the killing. Allegations arose that Chagra hired Harrelson, the actor Woody Harrelsons father, to commit the murder. Chagra asked Harrelson if Wood could be bribed. Defendants: Charles Manson, Susan Atkins, Patricia Krenwinkel, Leslie Van Houten Joe accepted a ten-year plea bargain in the Wood conspiracy, with the understanding that prosecutors would help him recover his law license. The prosecution produced no murder weapon or any eyewitnesses. Whether they are seeking financial help, spiritual help, whether they are looking for a job, clothing, food or encouragement, a listening ear or someone to help build them up, people can come here because it is not only in the heart of Wilmington but IS the heart of Wilmington. It was greed, the prosecution maintained, that had sent Mr. Harrelson, who had already spent 15 years in prison for killing a man for a $2,000 fee, to Las Vegas a month before, looking for Jamiel Chagra. Without Joe Chagras testimony, Jimmy Chagra was acquitted of murder and conspiracy to murder but convicted of lesser obstruction of justice and drug charges. Russian defense minister visits front lines as Ukraine's hold on Bakhmut slips. January 2023 Reader Quiz: What Did You Learn? TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. Elizabeth Chagra: conspiracy to murder and conspiracy to obstruct justice; separate indictment on income tax evasion. Chagra and his wife, Liz, and young daughter relocated to Las Vegas in 1978 and moved into a house across the street from attorney Oscar Goodman. United States of America, Plaintiff-appellee, v. Jo Ann Harrelson Kentucky man stops for breakfast, wins $50,000 lottery prize. Wood was shot in the back with a high-powered rifle while leaving his north San Antonio townhouse for work. Moving to the Harrelson Center has been pivotal to our growth. ''O.K., honey,'' Mrs. Chagra said she replied. In a recent interview with the San Antonio Express-News, Joe Chagras widow, now known as Patty Chagra Russell, defended her husband, saying the prison recording showed that Jimmy Chagra was a bully toward her husband. The trial for Jimmy Chagra, meanwhile, was moved to Jacksonville, Florida, and his lawyer, former Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman, dealt the government a defeat. The defendants were charged under Federal statutes governing the killing of a Federal employee. But the judge could not be corrupted. This is a digitized version of an article from The Timess print archive, before the start of online publication in 1996. Within the Cite this article tool, pick a style to see how all available information looks when formatted according to that style. They said no. He was a cheat, he was a con man and he was a murderer. Courthouse in San Antonio, Texas, Tuesday morning, September 28, 1982, to begin the trial for the May 1979 murder of Federal Judge John H. Wood, Jr.( AP PHOTO/ STEVE KRAUSS). Occasionally the digitization process introduces transcription errors or other problems; we are continuing to work to improve these archived versions. It was the crime of the century, in San Antonio for sure, said local defense lawyer Alan Brown, who represented people who were rounded up during the investigation but never charged in the murder. 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. Everybody got hurt in this. After invoking the At a subsequent trial, held in Florida because of the publicity in Texas, Jimmy Chagra was USAA wants some remote employees in the office three days Jury takes an hour to reach verdict over deal at Port S.A. Texas Vista owner has threatened hospital shutdown before, Rosie Castros appointment much more than a 3-month council stint, Access to Bexar County Courthouse just got easier, Man and adult stepdaughter accused of sexual assault on children, Man suspected of serial arson in far south Bexar County area. The trial of Jamiel Chagra was set for May 29, 1979, but Judge Wood was shot as he left his apartment in Alamo Heights for court. She said she had not believed him. He lost millions at the craps tables as well as in gin rummy games and on golf courses. 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. See the article in its original context from. 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. Judge Woods 1979 slaying by Charles Harrelson was crime of the century, San Antonio Zoo has a long but spotty history with giraffes. Goodman faced a monumental task to win the case. 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. He could have gone unnoticed for a long time, but he couldnt resist going to Las Vegas to see a cosmetic surgeon. Mr. Harrelson also said that Mr. Kay had $135,000 to $150,000 delivered to him as part of the ''scam.'' Once he paid off a cocktail waitress $50,000 mortgage when he heard she was raising three kids on her own. Another juror collapsed in her chair after the verdict was read and had to be helped from the courtroom. Woody Harrelson's dad was hitman who murdered judge and Jo Ann Harrelson was found guilty of conspiracy to obstruct justice. Charles Harrelson was a master at creating alibis, screens and layers between him and his crimes, according to retired federal prosecutor Ray Jahn, who with his wife, LeRoy Jahn, prosecuted Harrelson and his co-defendants. Warren Burnett, the attorney for Mrs. Chagra, expressed ''bitter, bitter disappointment'' and said he would also appeal the verdict. But Mr. Jahn, the Federal prosecutor, said in his final argument Saturday, ''Charles Harrelson had three talents. The investigation cost more than $11 million, at the time the most extensive investigation in the bureaus history. 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. Charles, Jo Ann Harrelson and Elizabeth Chagra faced only the lesser charges. 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. Thank you for helping me and our community. The pressure (to solve the murder) was on us, Ray Jahn said. Though he was strung out on coke, Joe had by this point become the nominal head of the Chagra family, meaning it was his responsibility to visit Jimmy, who whined constantly and seemed to think the mess his life had become was Joes fault. Harrelson, 69, died of a heart attack in March 2007 in a federal maximum-security prison in Colorado. ." Further, most of the evidence and testimony against Charles Harrelson had been gathered from prisoners who were offered reduced sentences in exchange for implicating Harrelson. Judge Wood, known as ''Maximum John'' because of the sentences he had given drug dealers, set May 29, 1979, as the day the trial was to begin. In an earlier trial, Mrs. Harrelson's husband, Charles Harrelson, was convicted of the 1979 assassination of U.S. District Judge John H. Wood Jr. in San Antonio, Texas, the only such killing of a sitting federal judge this century. He enjoyed a high-rolling lifestyle at Caesars Palace and Binions Horseshoe but he was not a very good gambler. Crimes Charged: First-degree murder an, Murder 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. On Christmas Eve 1978, two thugs robbed Lees law office and killed him. They pulled out all the stops. They shook down everybody in South Texas.. He was bringing in freighter ships of marijuana in the 70s.. The Center provides its nonprofit partners social and educational opportunities, marketing and promotions, volunteer recruitment and a place of collaboration for them to help those in need in our community. Investigators suspected that the murder was somehow connected to the growing drug trade in Texas. A portrait of Federal Judge John H. Wood, Jr. hangs at the Federal Courthouse. 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. The visiting room was bugged to gather information from mobster Nick Civella, also a Goodman client. Space-X continues to reach for the stars. But as his lawyer, Harrelson reasoned, anything Joe discovered about Woods murder would have to be kept confidential because of attorney-client privilege. According to the F.B.I. By Wayne King, Special To the New York Times. Chagras operation had links to the Patriarca crime family in New England. He also agreed to testify against all co-defendants except his brother. In his testimony, Mr. Harrelson said he was ''set up'' by George Edward (Pete) Kay, another gambler. 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.
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