A day after talking to Harrelson, Joe relayed what had been said about the Wood killing to his arrogant and tempestuous brother, who was furious. She had then given the rifle to George Kay. Mrs. Harrelson bought the rifle under a fictitious name, Fay King, or faking. However, there was no physical evidence and investigators had to rely on circumstantial evidence and informants. 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. James had a deal to receive $250,000 from the government if Chagra was convicted. Jo Ann Harrelson was summoned before a federal grand jury in the Western District of Texas investigating her husband's complicity in the murder. As of mid-2001, the appeal remained postponed. The assassination came at the height of a Justice Department campaign to slow the flow of illicit drugs across the Mexican border. To cut costs, Amazon delays completion of second headquarters, closes retail stores. They pulled out all the stops. Jimmy was upset about that because he thought it put him under suspicion right away, Ray Jahn said. 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. 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. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. As a result, people used him. 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. Copyright FameChain 2023, All rights reserved. Jo Ann Starr Harrelson: conspiracy to obstruct justice. 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). 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. He has published 21 books and screenplays, including many on Las Vegas history and historical figures. It was the first time someone assassinated a sitting federal judge. 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. They did a full-court press. But his wife was not released and died of ovarian cancer at age 41. This synergistic environment allows all the nonprofits to operate more efficiently and better utilize their funding. She was previously convicted of using a After the verdict, Mr. Harrelson said, ''It's just a necessary step in the progression of things.'' Joseph testified as well against his own sister-in-law Elizabeth Chagra, and Harrelson's wife, Jo Ann. It was a once-in-a-lifetime moment, the kind of drama that usually took place only in an episode of Perry Mason, John L. Smith wrote. 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. You know Harrelson knocked off the judge, Jimmy told him. The visiting room was bugged to gather information from mobster Nick Civella, also a Goodman client. Our incoming donations used to be 70% used items. 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. I promised Samantha that I would write that Joe was a good father, and I know damn well he was. 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. 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. He was 50. Dozens killed, injured as Jakarta fuel depot fire engulfs neighborhood. After Joe was killed, the bad publicity inevitably returned, so Patty took their daughter, Samantha, a seventeen-year-old high school honor student, to all the television stations in El Pasojust so they could see her face and know what they had put her through. After that, Patty told me, the flavor of the stories softened. He was sentenced to two life sentences. Charles Harrelson, arrives at the U.S. The investigation cost more than $11 million, at the time the most extensive investigation in the bureaus history. Wood died in 1979 when he was assassinated by Charles Harrelson. "Three Are Found Guilty of Assassination of Federal Judge." Retrieved February 23, 2023 from Encyclopedia.com: https://www.encyclopedia.com/law/law-magazines/charles-harrelson-trial-1982-83. 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. Investigators suspected that the murder was somehow connected to the growing drug trade in Texas. On This Day: Frances Perkins sworn in as first female Cabinet member. Mr. Harrelson also said that a high-powered Weatherby hunting rifle, the kind the Government said killed the judge, purchased by his wife 12 days before the slaying, was actually given to Mr. Kay. The government also taped other conversations, including some between Charles Harrelson and his attorney, and others between Joseph and Jamiel Chagra. The officer didnt recognize Chagra, but Chagra revealed himself by saying, I give up., CHAGRA: FROM THE COURTROOM TO PRISON TO NOT GUILTY TO DEATH. From online or printed Consequently, they got a bunch of bad stories, a bunch of bad information.. 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. Time (October 25, 1982). killed Judge Wood in exchange for a promised $250,000 payment by Jamiel Chagra. March 3 (UPI) -- A 7-year-old Louisiana boy with a firm grasp of baseball rules is seeking a Guinness World Record as the world's youngest umpire. ''O.K., honey,'' Mrs. Chagra said she replied. The unlawful killing of another human being without justification or excuse. By Wayne King, Special To the New York Times. 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. Jamiel Chagra: guilty of conspiracy to obstruct justice, drug charges, and tax evasion. 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. All but Jimmy live in El Paso. 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 fear, the Government asserted, was that of Jamiel Chagra, once described on an F.B.I. The seven-woman, five-man federal jury returned guilty verdicts on five counts of perjury after deliberating 2 hours. It's an amazing way to provide a warm handoff so that people have all of their needs served. You cant imagine the shock when Jimmy Chagra was acquitted.. 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. Chagra asked Harrelson if Wood could be bribed. March 3 (UPI) -- A sheep spotted wandering loose on a British highway was given a lift back to its owner by a concerned bus driver on her first day on the job. In the letter, Elizabeth relayed conversations about plans to kill Wood and told of her own delivery of the payoff money to Las Vegas. WebJo Ann Harrelson, Charles Voyed Harrelson and Elizabethnichols Chagra, Defendants-appellants, 754 F.2d 1153 (5th Cir. The map led the feds to learn that the murder weapon had been purchased by Harrelsons wife, Jo Ann. Encyclopedia.com gives you the ability to cite reference entries and articles according to common styles from the Modern Language Association (MLA), The Chicago Manual of Style, and the American Psychological Association (APA). Joseph Chagra refused to testify against his own brother Jamiel (Jimmy), however. March 3 (UPI) -- A New Brunswick couple who initially thought a burglar had broken into their home discovered the invader was actually a panicked deer. Goodman faced a monumental task to win the case. Fire Ants Have Unleashed Chaos in Texas for Decades. She died of ovarian cancer in prison because she wouldnt testify against me., But when reminded that he nonetheless confessed to bankrolling the judges killing, Chagra replied: Well, I said I did it to get paroled, so Ill stick to that story right now., He added: Personally, I dont know if Charlie Harrelson killed Judge Wood or not.. To preserve these articles as they originally appeared, The Times does not alter, edit or update them. Judge Woods 1979 slaying by Charles Harrelson was crime of the century, San Antonio Zoo has a long but spotty history with giraffes. 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. In 1995, he appeared as himself in the movie, Casino.. But Joe absolutely refused to testify against his brother as a matter of family honor. "The Judge Wood Murder Case." At one point in a rambling dialogue, Jimmy warned Joe that he was up to his neck in the murder plot. Goodman made a six-hour final argument without a break. The trial for the Harrelsons and Elizabeth Chagra took place in the newly named John H. Wood Jr. courthouse over objections from defense lawyers. Mr. Harrelson also said that Mr. Kay had $135,000 to $150,000 delivered to him as part of the ''scam.'' 23 Feb. 2023 . Five months later Wood was dead, slain May 29, 1979, on his way to work. In his testimony, Mr. Harrelson said he was ''set up'' by George Edward (Pete) Kay, another gambler. The center supports its partners with below-market rental rates that cover all utilities, parking and security. Daniel Vaughn is the countrys first barbecue editor, and he has eaten more barbecue than you have. But he had some luck when the prosecutors decided to put criminal Jerry Ray James on the stand to testify against Chagra. Since arriving, our vision has become reality. May 29, 1979: Wood was shot to death outside his San Antonio condo. She also said that when she had demurred about delivering the money, thinking it was a gambling payoff, he had hissed, ''This is for the judge.'' . He has said he is a key suspect in Wood's slaying on May 29, 1979. Federal District Judge William S. Sessions, who was a pallbearer at the slain judge's funeral and who, as chief judge in the district, appointed himself to preside in the case, said he would impose a sentence March 8, after the trial of Jamiel Chagra in Florida. Joseph Chagra accepted a plea bargain. From start to finish, I was treated with kindness and dignity. Joe was a genuinely nice guy who was congenitally unable to say no. It was just incredible, said Millsap, the former district attorney. 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. ", Woman wins $100,000 lottery prize 11 hours after $11,000 casino jackpot. 40 Days of Trial Testimony, In the course of 40 days of trial testimony from 130 witnesses and introduction of more than 300 exhibits, the Government developed what Mr. Jahn described in opening remarks and a closing argument as ''a story of fear, a story of greed and a story of murder. Mr. Chagra was one of three sons of a Lebanese rug merchant who had emigrated from Mexico to El Paso. See the article in its original context from. He asked if he should have Judge Wood killed. Jamiel Chagra: 15 years and $120,000 fine. Joe had no idea he was being pulled into the Wood conspiracyor even that there was a conspiracywhen Charles Harrelson hired him to represent him on an old gun charge in Harris County in February 1980. 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. Jo Ann Harrelson was convicted of conspiracy to obstruct justice and later convicted of five counts of perjury. (Original Caption) A Federal jury found co-defendents Jo Ann Harrelson (L) and Elizabeth Chagra (R) guilty of charges Instead, that day he was shot as he was leaving for court. Therefore, its best to use Encyclopedia.com citations as a starting point before checking the style against your school or publications requirements and the most-recent information available at these sites: http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/tools_citationguide.html. The trial grew out of one of the largest FBI investigations in history, taking three years and over $5 million. 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. The first giraffe in San Antonio was part of a traveling circus that stopped here in 1901. Not wanting to put his family through a trial, Joe pleaded guilty to something he didnt do, Chagra Russell said. Jo Ann Harrelson: 25 years for obstruction of justice and perjury. 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. The evil sought to be avoided by pr, A sentence whereby a convict is released from confinement but is still under court supervision; a testing or a trial period. Tapes of Jerry Ray James' extensive conversations with Jamiel spelled out details of the plot to kill the judge. 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. In addition to the testimony of Joseph Chagra, the government had evidence drawn from more than 1,000 recorded telephone and face-to-face conversations, most of them involving Jamiel Chagra in various prisons. On Feb. 26, 1979, he was indicted on five counts of trafficking in marijuana and cocaine. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate. 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. Elizabeth Chagra: 30 years for conspiracy to murder, two concurrent five year sentences for obstruction of justice and tax evasion. 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. What finally did Joe in was his inability to stand up to Jimmy. Prosecutors made a diorama of Woods condo complex to show how the murder occurred. "Charles Harrelson Trial: 1982-83 '', 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.''. Lee and Jimmy were gangsters, whereas Joe was just a kid who liked to snort coke and talk tough. 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. Should you have information that conflicts with anything shown please make us aware by email. "It's a safe wonderful environment for all those charities to be located in. Chagra also was a prime suspect in the attempted murder of Assistant U.S. Attorney James Kerr of San Antonio. Over time, we became friends. A place where needs are met, dreams are fostered and hope abounds. Another juror collapsed in her chair after the verdict was read and had to be helped from the courtroom. Leave them blank to get signed up. He said that Mr. Kay had bilked Jamiel Chagra by telling him that it was he, Charles Harrelson, who had shot the judge and should collect the $250,000 payoff. March 3 (UPI) -- A former U.S. soldier was sentenced to 45 years in prison Friday for planning a deadly ambush on members of his military unit. Harrelson was sentenced to two consecutive life terms plus five years, while Jo Ann Harrelson got a combined 25 years for obstruction of justice. 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. ''I thought he should,'' Joseph Chagra said. In a plea agreement, Joe Chagra got a 10-year sentence. 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. After Monday's conviction, Sessions said he would be forced to postpone the March 18 sentencing in San Antonio of Mrs. Harrelson, her husband Charles and Mrs. Chagra for the earlier convictions. 'She has reached a point where the evidence is up to her ears and she's floundering in it. Jo Ann Harrelson was found guilty of conspiracy to obstruct justice. By that time the FBI investigation into the judges assassination was more than two years old. But they would have had leaves on them at the time of the murder, rendering the witness testimony not credible. SHREVEPORT, La. The UK's supply crisis puts extra pressure on Prime Minister Boris. 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. However, after a game of pickup basketball between Woody and Fred Biery, the judge scheduled to hear the case, the judge disqualified himself and the case was continued to the year 2000, to be heard before Judge Orlando Garcia in Denver. 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. The Jo Ann Carter Harrelson Center Inc. is a North 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. Woody Harrelson is a beloved actor, but he has a troublesome legacy. Once he paid off a cocktail waitress $50,000 mortgage when he heard she was raising three kids on her own. The gun rap seemed routine until Harrelson was arrested following a cocaine-induced standoff near Van Horn, at which time his motive became clear. 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. Harrelson is drowning in a sea of evidence and she realizes it,' assistant U.S. Attorney Ray Jahn told jurors before the verdict Monday. Kathryn Wood, the widow of the slain judge, provided a five-page handwritten letter from Elizabeth Chagra, apologizing for her involvement in the murder. Less than a year before Judge Wood was slain, Lee Chagra, Joseph's older brother, who had defended numerous narcotics suspects in Judge Wood's court, was killed in his office by armed robbers. Tips poured in. 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. 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. H-E-Bs True Texas BBQ Restaurant Is Slipping, West Texans Are Learning What It Means to Live in Bear Country. Harrelson also testified that Kay had borrowed his own distinctive gold-colored Oldsmobile, similar to one seen near the judge's apartment on the day of the killing. Bring on the Shiplap. Wood died in 1979 when he was assassinated by Charles Harrelson. 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. WebTo provide a humanitarian services campus of nonprofit organizations that offer hope, opportunity, and empowerment. In death as in life, El Paso crime family scion Joe Chagra is getting a bad rap. 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. "Charles Harrelson Trial: 1982-83 He was sentenced to life in prison. Mrs. Harrelson, who had said she was '99 percent sure' she would be jailed Monday, is the wife of convicted hit man Charles V. Harrelson, who is imprisoned in Houston on state charges. Elizabeth Chagra: conspiracy to murder and conspiracy to obstruct justice; separate indictment on income tax evasion. 3 children killed, 2 hospitalized in North Texas domestic incident. But as his lawyer, Harrelson reasoned, anything Joe discovered about Woods murder would have to be kept confidential because of attorney-client privilege. Patricia Sharpe writes a regular restaurant column, Pats Pick, for Texas Monthly. Elizabeth Chagra: guilty of conspiracy to murder, conspiracy to obstruct justice, tax evasion, conspiracy conviction overturned February 15, 1985, on appealSentences: Charles Harrelson: two life sentences plus five years. 10- 6-1982 (L-R ) Leroy Jahn and Ray Jahn prosecutors in trial for muder of John H. Wood Jr. San Antonio Express-News file photo, JOSE BARRERA, STAFF / SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS. 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. According to the F.B.I. Image of Jimmy Chagra in handcuffs courtesy of the Las Vegas Review-Journal. 10/19/1981 - Charles V. Harrelson, charged in the murder of U.S. District Judge John H. Wood, in court. The Center works with its partners to meet the needs of the community in areas such as safe and affordable housing, education, employment, health care and family support. Livestreaming available the night of the event by clicking here. 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. ." March 3 (UPI) -- At a White House meeting on Friday, President Joe Biden thanked German Chancellor Olaf Scholz for Germany's "profound" help in countering Russian aggression in Ukraine. She recovered quickly and later said she was fine. Charles Harrelson was born on July 23rd, 1938, in Lovelady, Texas, the son of Alma Lee (ne Sparks; 19072002) and Voyde Harrelson (19011976). Moving to the Harrelson Center has been pivotal to our growth. A portrait of Federal Judge John H. Wood, Jr. hangs at the Federal Courthouse, Monday, August 7, 2017. 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. The desire to give and serve others stems from a place of earnest compassion. Jack Sheehan calls him the Pablo Escobar of weed. If I'm not the expert in one area, I know already that somebody is within the Harrelson Center. Liz got a 30-year sentence. 'Justice Did Not Die'. The pair wed in 2001 and share four children, but their political differences during the Trump administration took a toll on their relationship. Chagra was a prolific marijuana smuggler and spent his ill-gotten fortune on casinos in Las Vegas, where he moved in 1978. WebJo Ann Harrelson's in laws: All relationship and family history information shown on FameChain has been compiled from data in the public domain. Ive published three articles in this magazine about Wood and the Chagras, but Ive never written all I knowuntil now. 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.
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