The evidence gathered against Harrelson was somewhat tenuous, and included testimony from Joseph Chagra in return for a reduced sentence, and a letter from Elizabeth Chagra that claimed she had delivered money to Harrelson as a payoff for the murder. In the 1970s, Jimmy Chagra was the marijuana kingpin of the Western world. WebJo Ann Harrelson, Charles Voyed Harrelson and Elizabethnichols Chagra, Defendants-appellants, 754 F.2d 1153 (5th Cir. '', The fear, the Government asserted, was that of Jamiel Chagra, once described on an F.B.I. On May 29, 1979, Wood was shot dead in the parking lot outside his San Antonio townhouse. Almost immediately, investigators turned to Mr. Chagra's plush law offices. Charles Harrelson was the last of the classic American hitman. Woody Harrelson funded his fathers appeals, enlisting the aid of controversial Joseph agreed that he should. 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. Mrs. Chagra was found guilty of conspiracy to commit murder and conspiracy to obstruct justice. By that time the FBI investigation into the judges assassination was more than two years old. 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. And, indeed, Joe found out who shot Judge Woodand who hired himduring an attorney-client interview he conducted with Harrelson after his arrest at the Harris County jail. However, U.S. District Judge William S. Sessions ordered the hearing continued at a later date, indicating Mrs. Harrelson still faces possible imprisonment. CHAGRA: ASSASSINATION OF JUDGE JOHN WOOD AND LINKS TO CHARLES HARRELSON, FATHER OF WOODY. Harrelson reported back that Wood could not be corrupted but had to be killed. 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 Chagra and Harrelson werent immediate suspects, and it took thousands of man-hours before they were identified as such. Jamiel Chagra: 15 years and $120,000 fine. Elizabeth Chagra: 30 years for conspiracy to murder, two concurrent five year sentences for obstruction of justice and tax evasion. Harrelson had been a suspect, but so had several others. Judge Wood denied any impropriety and refused to remove himself from the case. He was bringing in freighter ships of marijuana in the 70s.. 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. The prosecutors alleged that Jimmy, who was serving a 30-year term as a drug trafficker, had paid Mr. Harrelson $250,000 to kill the judge. Mrs. Harrelson faces up to 25 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. 'Saving Private Ryan,' 'True Romance' actor Tom Sizemore dead at 61, Syndicated show 'Rachael Ray' wrapping 17-season run, Migrant woman dies after U.S. Coast Guard stops vessel carrying 54. Newsweek (June 22, 1981). He was very good at what he did, Ray Jahn said. But his wife was not released and died of ovarian cancer at age 41. Goodman is one of the nations best criminal defense attorneys and was named one of the 15 Best Trial Lawyers in America by the National Law Journal. He was sentenced to life in prison. WebThe Harrelson Center is a nonprofit campus that supports and partners with other nonprofit organizations in the Wilmington community to provide centralized services. In 1979, a federal grand jury in Midland, Texas, indicted Chagra on drug smuggling charges. Over time, we became friends. 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. It was the huge stepping stone we needed to be able to increase our impact on the community and really do right by our clients. And You Thought Feral Hogs Were Bad. The hearing was the first in which federal prosecutors have failed to obtain a contempt citation against people refusing to testify before the grand jury investigating the fatal shooting of U.S. District Judge John H. Wood Jr. Two of those people recently were released. 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. TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. 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. I mean I had so much money, so much power, Chagra said. Jo Ann Harrelson was found guilty of conspiracy to obstruct justice. 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. It was a tragedy., She couldnt speak to Jimmy Chagras crimes or conduct, saying, we werent close.. ''I asked him if he was the one who murdered Judge Wood, and he said he was,'' Mr. Chagra testified in a San Antonio Federal Court. As of mid-2001, the appeal remained postponed. TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. But Mr. Jahn, the Federal prosecutor, said in his final argument Saturday, ''Charles Harrelson had three talents. The 5th U.S. To preserve these articles as they originally appeared, The Times does not alter, edit or update them. 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. 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. On This Day: Frances Perkins sworn in as first female Cabinet member. May 29, 1979: Wood was shot to death outside his San Antonio condo. See the article in its original context from. Mr. Chagra returned to El Paso in 1988 from a Federal prison in Stafford, Ariz., where he had served six and a half years of a 10-year sentence for conspiracy. Bill Thompson, HP staff / Houston Chronicle, S.A.-area rancher catches the hearts of American Idol judges, Take a look inside this $3.5 million 'mystery' mansion, USAA wants some remote employees in the office three days a week, Boy, 11, shoots self in head with gun he found in apartment, 10 things to do this weekend in San Antonio, New food truck park opens at The CO-OP SA, Heres why it hailed through the Alamodome last night, Chicken Salad Chick to open second S.A. location, Judge Sarah Garrahan-Moulder, who helped prosecute hit man Charles Harrelson in San Antonio, dies at 84, Look inside historic $2.3 million King William home. Anyone can read what you share. Most online reference entries and articles do not have page numbers. "Charles Harrelson Trial: 1982-83 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. She said she had not believed him. Through these collaborations, we have been able to extend our reach to help more families in our local community. 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. The Chagras were known as key members of a so-called Dixie Mafia, heavily involved in drug smuggling. The pair wed in 2001 and share four children, but their political differences during the Trump administration took a toll on their relationship. Joseph Chagra accepted a plea bargain. I work for a non-profit and it is encouraging to know when I refer clients to you that they will feel cared for and not judged. 'I have ordered the hearing continued and you can logically assume what that means,' Sessions said. 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. Time (October 25, 1982). Among other points, Woody said that his father had spent only $7,000 on his defense, compared to the $5 to $10 million spent by the federal government in marshalling evidence. Thursday, May 28: Oscar's "Case of the Century": The Life Talented With Cards. 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. WebThe map led the feds to learn that the murder weapon had been purchased by Harrelsons wife, Jo Ann. 10/19/1981 - Charles V. Harrelson, charged in the murder of U.S. District Judge John H. Wood, in court. By Wayne King, Special To the New York Times. However, there was no physical evidence and investigators had to rely on circumstantial evidence and informants. Within the Cite this article tool, pick a style to see how all available information looks when formatted according to that style. Joe Chagra also testified that Jimmy Chagra later told him he had hired Harrelson to kill the judge and that Harrelson himself told Joe Chagra that he had carried out the hit, according to the newspaper stories. The map led the feds to learn that the murder weapon had been purchased by Harrelsons wife, Jo Ann. Thats how one former friend described the convicted killer. Throughout, Charles Voyde Harrelson, the man convicted of killing the judge May 29, 1979, with a single shot in the back from a highpowered rifle, appeared at ease, leaning back in his chair and offering the jury faint smiles. SHREVEPORT, La. The reward was eventually paid out to a handful of people who included a horrible creton bankrobber who shared a jail cell with Charles Harrelson, a woman who delivered the $250,000 payout for the hit to Harrelson, and a kid who found a piece of the murder rifle in a creek bed, said Sam Millsap, who chaired the reward committee. Jo Ann Harrelson was found guilty of conspiracy to obstruct justice. 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. Consequently, they got a bunch of bad stories, a bunch of bad information.. Without Joe Chagras testimony, Jimmy Chagra was acquitted of murder and conspiracy to murder but convicted of lesser obstruction of justice and drug charges. Anyone can read what you share. circular of wanted people as a ''carpet salesman, professional gambler and narcotics trafficker.''. In 2019, we had a staff of three and were serving maybe 150 individuals. This is a digitized version of an article from The Timess print archive, before the start of online publication in 1996. Explore how the celebrity world connects. Thats not the problem I have, Ray Jahn quoted Jimmy Chagra as telling Harrelson. Investigators suspected that the murder was somehow connected to the growing drug trade in Texas. 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). Harrelson claimed to have killed 50 Jo Ann Starr Harrelson: conspiracy to obstruct justice. They tortured her for no (reason). 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. Occasionally the digitization process introduces transcription errors or other problems; we are continuing to work to improve these archived versions. She was previously convicted of using a false name to buy a rifle, believed to be the murder weapon, and sentenced to three years. -- 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 latest in a string of convictions in the case. Explore how the celebrity world connects. The bug picked up Chagra talking with his wife and brother Joe about the judges murder. 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. -- 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 March 3 (UPI) -- In a cost-saving move, retail giant Amazon announced Friday that it will delay construction on a planned second corporate headquarters dubbed "HQ2" in Arlington, Va. President Joe Biden thanks German chancellor for his nation's help in Ukraine. Five months later Wood was dead, slain May 29, 1979, on his way to work. 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. Here, we have shared resources, funding, and space with the Center just bringing it all together. Woody Harrelson is a beloved actor, but he has a troublesome legacy. 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. But as his lawyer, Harrelson reasoned, anything Joe discovered about Woods murder would have to be kept confidential because of attorney-client privilege. Governor of Philippine province, 5 others killed in gun attack. Space-X continues to reach for the stars. ', Jahn, who has spearheaded the prosecutions resulting from the Wood investigation, said, 'I'm a firm believer in the system and I'm in full agreement with the verdicts reached today.'. 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. (Original Caption) A Federal jury found co-defendents Jo Ann Harrelson (L) and Elizabeth Chagra (R) guilty of charges They pulled out all the stops. All but Jimmy live in El Paso. In addition to his son and brother, Mr. Chagra is survived by his mother, Josephine, and two sisters, Samantha and Patsy. Jo Ann Harrelson: guilty of conspiracy to obstruct justice, perjury. 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. Charles Harrelson, arrives at the U.S. They did a full-court press. You know Harrelson knocked off the judge, Jimmy told him. 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. Mr. Harrelson said Mr. Kay borrowed the car some days before the killing, but that he had it back and was in Dallas on the day of the killing. Livestreaming available the night of the event by clicking here. 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, "Texas SniperThe Charge: Murdering a Judge." Circuit Court of Appeals overturned the conspiracy conviction February 15, 1985, on the grounds that the prosecution failed to show premeditation and malice. Elizabeth Chagra admitted she delivered the money but said she did not know what it was for. ", Anne Best, Executive Director, Family Promise, The truest measure of love is revealed by how we respond to the needs of others. Thank you for helping me and our community. Jo Ann Harrelson tried for perjury, and Jamiel and Elizabeth Chagra tried for tax evasion in Shreveport, Louisiana.Dates of Trials: October 7, 1982-December 14, 1982 (Charles Harrelson, Jo Ann Harrelson, Elizabeth Chagra); January 10, 1983-February 7, 1983 (Jamiel Chagra); March 1983 (Chagra trials for tax evasion and Jo Ann Harrelson trial for perjury)Verdicts: Charles Harrelson: guilty of murder of federal judge, conspiracy to murder, conspiracy to obstruct justice. 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. Jimmy Chagra was released from federal prison in 2003 and entered the witness-protection program. All relationship and family history information shown on FameChain has been compiled from data in the public domain. JERRY LARA, Staff / San Antonio Express-News. ", - Jim Everette, Harrelson Center Ex-Officio Board Member, We are all different parts, but part of the same body. He lost millions at the craps tables as well as in gin rummy games and on golf courses. Jo Ann, convicted of conspiracy to obstruct justice and perjury, was later paroled. Russian defense minister visits front lines as Ukraine's hold on Bakhmut slips. This is a digitized version of an article from The Timess print archive, before the start of online publication in 1996. Jack Sheehan calls him the Pablo Escobar of weed. ." "Foster Pantry moved on campus in May 2021 after joining the Harrelson Center initially as an Associate Partner in 2019. Harrelson thought that was the day he had to kill the judge.. Charles Manson Trial: 1970-71 Bikers and other street toughs were dragged in on hold-over charges. 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. Harrelson claimed that when the murder took place, he was in Dallas, 270 miles away. 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. National Park Service: 'Never push a slower friend down' in a bear encounter, March 2 (UPI) -- The National Park Service offered some sage advice for park visitors who encounter bears: "Never push a slower friend down. However, the date of retrieval is often important. "It's a safe wonderful environment for all those charities to be located in. Jo Ann got a 25-year sentence. ", 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. Chagra was a prolific marijuana smuggler and spent his ill-gotten fortune on casinos in Las Vegas, where he moved in 1978. Sessions gave Chagra 30 years on the drug charges, and he was sent to Leavenworth. Harrelson).'. 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. We mesh and balance each other., - Jerri Holliday, Executive Director, Philippians 3 Ministries, 20 North 4th St. STE 214 Wilmington, NC 28401, But the Partner benefit with the greatest impact to us and our families. He also agreed to testify against all co-defendants except his brother. 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

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