"The Judge Wood Murder Case." The case was unique in that the courts all the way up the line blessed the decisions below, Campion said of appeals that followed. (Original Caption) A Federal jury found co-defendents Jo Ann Harrelson (L) and Elizabeth Chagra (R) guilty of charges ", Missy Bennett, Executive Director, Operation Pretty Things, "The Harrelson Center really provides a unique opportunity to serve people holistically. ." I visited him several times, once with my wife, Phyllis. Chagra was let out on bail and he disappeared. Minnesota officer removes jar from raccoon's head. Drug Dealer's Wife Is Guilty. 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. 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. WebTo provide a humanitarian services campus of nonprofit organizations that offer hope, opportunity, and empowerment. -- 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 Elizabeth Chagra: 30 years for conspiracy to murder, two concurrent five year sentences for obstruction of justice and tax evasion. At one point in a rambling dialogue, Jimmy warned Joe that he was up to his neck in the murder plot. 10/19/1981 - Charles V. Harrelson, charged in the murder of U.S. District Judge John H. Wood, in court. 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. Overdue book returned to Massachusetts library after 56 years. 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. 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. Donald asks the courts to let him tweet. It's an amazing way to provide a warm handoff so that people have all of their needs served. The UK's supply crisis puts extra pressure on Prime Minister Boris. Moving to the Harrelson Center has been pivotal to our growth. When the government offered to try Jimmy separately in its desperation to nail Harrelson, Joe found himself in a predicament. 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. 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. They said no. Mr. Chagra was one of three sons of a Lebanese rug merchant who had emigrated from Mexico to El Paso. A lot of the early investigation went off on some tangents, and they rounded up some Bandidos, lawyer Campion said. He wasnt a criminal; he was a nice person, she added. When he went to Las Vegas, he went to offer his talents as a murderer.''. In 2006, he did some videotaped interviews with Las Vegas journalist Jack Sheehan. March 4 (UPI) -- At least 15 people were killed and searchers combed a section ofthe Indonesian capital of Jakartafor survivors Saturday after a massive fire engulfed a fuel storage depot. Crimes Charged: First-degree murder an, Murder 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. He was found guilty of conspiracy to commit murder, carrying a sentence of up to life in prison; murder of a Federal judge, mandatory life, and conspiracy to obstruct justice, up to five years. Newsweek (June 22, 1981). Chagra asked Harrelson if Wood could be bribed. He built a marijuana and cocaine smuggling operation with connections to Colombia and Mexico. 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. Wood died in 1979 when he was assassinated by Charles Harrelson. Since arriving, our vision has become reality. 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. Great American Trials. Joe accepted a ten-year plea bargain in the Wood conspiracy, with the understanding that prosecutors would help him recover his law license. Should you have information that conflicts with anything shown please make us aware by email. It was the day after (Memorial) Day, the day Chagras trial was to start, Ray Jahn said. Through these collaborations, we have been able to extend our reach to help more families in our local community. - Steve Spain, Executive Director, Cape Fear Habitat for Humanity. They shook down everybody in South Texas.. To preserve these articles as they originally appeared, The Times does not alter, edit or update them. Whats Up With All the Kangaroos on the Loose in Texas? Leave them blank to get signed up. They werent taking no for an answer, defense lawyer Brown said. 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. and court testimony, Jamiel Chagra was ''the highest of high rollers,'' a man who flew in private jets, gambled at roped-off tables in Las Vegas and thought nothing of betting half a million dollars on a roll of the dice. 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. One, Jerry Ray James, befriended Jamiel Chagra in prison and allowed his conversations to be secretly taped. In his testimony, Mr. Harrelson said he was ''set up'' by George Edward (Pete) Kay, another gambler. 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. 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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. Jamiel Chagra: guilty of conspiracy to obstruct justice, drug charges, and tax evasion. Lee considered Joe his property and took what he wanted, including Joes first serious girlfriend. British bus driver stops to give loose sheep a lift. Chagras operation had links to the Patriarca crime family in New England. The only other person in the world who knew that Harrelson did the hit on Judge Wood was Jimmy, who ordered it. WebJo Ann Harrelson's in laws: All relationship and family history information shown on FameChain has been compiled from data in the public domain. Daniel's 5th outing as Bond gets bums back on seats in the cinema. Goodman faced a monumental task to win the case. If you fill out the first name, last name, or agree to terms fields, you will NOT be added to the newsletter list. TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. WebThe map led the feds to learn that the murder weapon had been purchased by Harrelsons wife, Jo Ann. Wood was called 'Maximum John' for his tough sentencing policies. The gun rap seemed routine until Harrelson was arrested following a cocaine-induced standoff near Van Horn, at which time his motive became clear. She said she had not believed him. Three years later, after moving to the Harrelson Center, we have a staff of 18 and are serving some 1500 people. This is a digitized version of an article from The Timess print archive, before the start of online publication in 1996. 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. Released in 1978, he married for a third time the next year, this time to Jo Ann Starr. Our incoming donations used to be 70% used items. Though he and his wife, Patty, divorced, they remained close. Jamiel Chagra: 15 years and $120,000 fine. 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. Harrelson claimed that he was set up. Great American Trials. killed Judge Wood in exchange for a promised $250,000 payment by Jamiel Chagra. Charles Harrelson arrives at Federal Court 11-8-82 for his trial in the slaying of federal judge Wood. 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. Mrs. Chagra was found guilty of conspiracy to commit murder and conspiracy to obstruct justice. 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. ", Anne Best, Executive Director, Family Promise, The truest measure of love is revealed by how we respond to the needs of others. US based Meghan and Harry.. FameChain has their amazing trees. A few days later they returned a not-guilty verdict to the murder charge. separate, there is cohesiveness. Judge Sessions gave Chagra only 10 additional years on his sentence, making him eligible for parole in 2007. 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. 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. February 2023 Reader Quiz: What Did You Learn? 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. He was serving a 30-year sentence there that he received on the drug charge that was to be tried before Judge Wood. A place where needs are met, dreams are fostered and hope abounds. He told Joe about the contract and drew a map showing where he had hidden the murder rifle. At least 10 people have died in the wake of a severe weather system bringing fierce winds, damaging tornadoes and flash flooding to the U.S. South and Midwest. Russian defense minister visits front lines as Ukraine's hold on Bakhmut slips. But Mr. Jahn, the Federal prosecutor, said in his final argument Saturday, ''Charles Harrelson had three talents. Jo Ann, convicted of conspiracy to obstruct justice and perjury, was later paroled. 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. Time (October 25, 1982). 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. Bikers and other street toughs were dragged in on hold-over charges. Mr. Chagra was a pivotal figure in a dramatic 1979 murder case, and his testimony helped convict Charles Voyde Harrelson, the father of the actor Woody Harrelson, of killing Judge John H. Wood Jr., an enemy of drug traffickers. 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. 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. SIGNIFICANCE: Charles Harrelson was convicted for a hit-man killing of Judge John H. Wood, the only federal judge to be assassinated in the twentieth century. Tapes of Jerry Ray James' extensive conversations with Jamiel spelled out details of the plot to kill the judge. 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. This is not a happy story for anybody. Image of Jimmy Chagra in handcuffs courtesy of the Las Vegas Review-Journal. The trial grew out of one of the largest FBI investigations in history, taking three years and over $5 million. But they would have had leaves on them at the time of the murder, rendering the witness testimony not credible. Joe Chagra ended 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. The desire to give and serve others stems from a place of earnest compassion. Florida woman runs ultra-marathon distances for 23 consecutive days. Jo Ann Harrelson: 25 years for obstruction of justice and perjury. 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. It was a big deal; there was a lot of interest in the case, said Millsap, who later served as Bexar County district attorney. Thats how one former friend described the convicted killer. Cite this article Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography. To cut costs, Amazon delays completion of second headquarters, closes retail stores. Jo Ann Harrelson was convicted of conspiracy to obstruct justice and later convicted of five counts of perjury. The 5th U.S. But the Partner benefit with the greatest impact to us and our families is being within arms reach of so many other amazing nonprofits and the Harrelson Center team. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate. Guillermo has also worked in Central America, Mexico, New Mexico, Arizona and California and his work has appeared in various publications, including the Los Angeles Times, New York Times, New York Post, Newsday, Denver Post and the Albuquerque Journal. After the verdict, Mr. Harrelson said, ''It's just a necessary step in the progression of things.'' Joseph Chagra pled guilty to the charge of conspiracy to commit murder and received a sentence of ten years. ''O.K., honey,'' Mrs. Chagra said she replied. This is a digitized version of an article from The Timess print archive, before the start of online publication in 1996. CHAGRA: ASSASSINATION OF JUDGE JOHN WOOD AND LINKS TO CHARLES HARRELSON, FATHER OF WOODY. Chagra was a prolific marijuana smuggler and spent his ill-gotten fortune on casinos in Las Vegas, where he moved in 1978. 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. ", 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. The FBI hauled in just about anyone if agents believed that they had information, and the agency threw the book at them to make them talk. 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. 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. 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. 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. However, U.S. District Judge William S. Sessions ordered the hearing continued at a later date, indicating Mrs. Harrelson still faces possible imprisonment. We're not a hand-out place; we're a hand-up place.". 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. To provide a humanitarian services campus of nonprofit organizations that offer hope, opportunity, and empowerment. Someone could have done a movie not only on the case, but on the people who got the reward.. In 2019, we had a staff of three and were serving maybe 150 individuals. Harrelson was sentenced to two consecutive life terms plus five years, while Jo Ann Harrelson got a combined 25 years for obstruction of justice. The government indicted Harrelson, the Chagra brothers, Jo Ann Harrelson and Jimmy Chagras wife, Elizabeth, who delivered the $250,000 payoff for Charles Harrelson. He called himself ''a card mechanic'' so talented with a deck that he could deal any hands requested around a table. 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. But as his lawyer, Harrelson reasoned, anything Joe discovered about Woods murder would have to be kept confidential because of attorney-client privilege. Most online reference entries and articles do not have page numbers. How Florence ButtNot Her SonLaunched the H-E-B Empire. And You Thought Feral Hogs Were Bad. As of mid-2001, the appeal remained postponed. JERRY LARA, Staff / San Antonio Express-News. The defendants were charged under Federal statutes governing the killing of a Federal employee. Joseph Chagra did not testify. All relationship and family history information shown on FameChain has been compiled from data in the public domain. But his wife was not released and died of ovarian cancer at age 41. 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. Firefighters hoist horse stranded in backyard swimming pool. The first giraffe in San Antonio was part of a traveling circus that stopped here in 1901. Anyone can read what you share. Chip Gaines Bought Larry McMurtrys Historic Texas Bookstore. It was the first time someone assassinated a sitting federal judge. James had a deal to receive $250,000 from the government if Chagra was convicted. Chagra was once held by Colombian authorities after his drug-smuggling plane crashed there. According to the F.B.I. Thursday, May 28: Oscar's "Case of the Century": The Life When Chagras former drug-smuggling partner Henry Wallace turned and became a witness, the charges against Chagra were increased and he faced the prospect of life in prison without parole. Jo Ann Harrelson was found guilty of conspiracy to obstruct justice. After invoking the While awaiting trial, Chagra came into contact with career criminal Charles Harrelson, father of actor Woody Harrelson, in Las Vegas. On Dec. 14, 1982, a Federal jury in San Antonio found Mr. Harrelson guilty of conspiracy to murder, murder and conspiracy to obstruct justice. 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. Judge Woods 1979 slaying by Charles Harrelson was crime of the century, San Antonio Zoo has a long but spotty history with giraffes. '', The fear, the Government asserted, was that of Jamiel Chagra, once described on an F.B.I. 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. 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. 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. Five months later Wood was dead, slain May 29, 1979, on his way to work. Because he was a model prisoner Joe ended up spending only six and a half years behind bars. Harrelson claimed to have killed 50 She had then given the rifle to George Kay. 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. Everybody got hurt in this. Elizabeth Chagra died in prison of ovarian cancer in September 1997 at age 43. A police officer stopped his car. 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. Chagra told Sheehan that he offered to plead guilty to having Judge Wood murdered, if theyd release my wife. Jimmy Chagra, who was facing numerous narcotics charges, would become a suspect in the killing. On This Day: Frances Perkins sworn in as first female Cabinet member. The Chagras said they were convinced that Judge Wood, who was scheduled to preside over Jimmy's case, had a bias against them. 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. New York Times (December 15, 1982). 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. Within the Cite this article tool, pick a style to see how all available information looks when formatted according to that style. Eventually, the evidence pointed to Harrelson, in particular a taped conversation Chagra had with another brother who was a lawyer, Joe Chagra, in Leavenworth federal prison about the assassination. Woody Harrelson's dad Charles Voyde Harrelson was a career criminal who died in prison while serving two life sentences for murdering a judge in a contract Liz got a 30-year sentence. ", & Dr. She was previously convicted of using a He won the first ever Nevada Screenwriters Award in 1988 and the Lowell Thomas Award for outstanding travel writing in 1991. Daniel Vaughn is the countrys first barbecue editor, and he has eaten more barbecue than you have. In a plea agreement, Joe Chagra got a 10-year sentence. On Feb. 26, 1979, he was indicted on five counts of trafficking in marijuana and cocaine. 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.