Tips poured in. Thank you for helping me and our community. He told Joe about the contract and drew a map showing where he had hidden the murder rifle. 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. Bobby Harrelson said it best in Crazy Like A Fox, an article in Wilmington Magazine. 'Mrs. The desire to give and serve others stems from a place of earnest compassion. In 2006, he did some videotaped interviews with Las Vegas journalist Jack Sheehan. Jack Sheehan has been living and writing in Las Vegas for 40 years. Chagra also was a prime suspect in the attempted murder of Assistant U.S. Attorney James Kerr of San Antonio. 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, Can College Sports Get More Absurd Than SMU Joining the Pac-12? 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. 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. Mr. Chagra was one of three sons of a Lebanese rug merchant who had emigrated from Mexico to El Paso. Elizabeth Chagra died in prison of ovarian cancer in September 1997 at age 43. One of his many screenplays details the life of notorious drug smuggler Jimmy Chagra. Jos R. Ralat is Texas Monthlys taco editor, writing about tacos and Mexican food. Lee considered Joe his property and took what he wanted, including Joes first serious girlfriend. Having these additional resources in the same building for our families, as well as having the support of the Harrelson Center staff allows us to continue to ease the transitions of our local foster children. He has published 21 books and screenplays, including many on Las Vegas history and historical figures. 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. Depen, Chicago Mobsters Convicted of Decades-Old Murders Joseph Chagra pled guilty to the charge of conspiracy to commit murder and received a sentence of ten years. 7-year-old baseball umpire seeks Guinness World Record. 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. Murder is perhaps the single most serious criminal offense. ", & Dr. To form an opinion after evaluating the facts and applyi, A second prosecution for the same offense after acquittal or conviction or multiple punishments for same offense. One, Jerry Ray James, befriended Jamiel Chagra in prison and allowed his conversations to be secretly taped. Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography. Firefighters hoist horse stranded in backyard swimming pool. Kathryn Wood, the widow of the slain judge, provided a five-page handwritten letter from Elizabeth Chagra, apologizing for her involvement in the murder. 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. To preserve these articles as they originally appeared, The Times does not alter, edit or update them. Because each style has its own formatting nuances that evolve over time and not all information is available for every reference entry or article, Encyclopedia.com cannot guarantee each citation it generates. They said no. 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 2 (UPI) -- A Minnesota police officer came to the rescue of a raccoon he spotted running around with a jar stuck over its head. She was previously convicted of using a Charles Harrelson's great grandfather was, Charles Harrelson's great grandmother was, Charles Harrelson's great great grandfather was, Charles Harrelson's great great grandmother is, Charles Harrelson's great great grandmother was, Charles Harrelson's 3x great grandfather was, Charles Harrelson's 3x great grandmother was, Charles Harrelson's former father in law was, Charles Harrelson's former mother in law was, Charles Harrelson's former grandfather in law was, Charles Harrelson's former grandmother in law was, Charles Harrelson's former daughter in law is, Jo Ann Harrelson's step-mother in law was, Jo Ann Harrelson's grandfather in law was, Jo Ann Harrelson's grandmother in law was, Jo Ann Harrelson's husband Charles Harrelson's aunt in law was, Jo Ann Harrelson's husband Charles Harrelson's uncle in law was. At a subsequent trial, held in Florida because of the publicity in Texas, Jimmy Chagra was acquitted of murder and conspiracy to commit murder but convicted of conspiracy to obstruct justice and conspiracy to possess more than half a ton of marijuana with intent to sell. On March 4, 1933, Frances Perkins was sworn in as U.S. labor secretary, becoming the first female member of the Cabinet. Within the Cite this article tool, pick a style to see how all available information looks when formatted according to that style. See the article in its original context from. 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. 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. According to the Jahns, Harrelson offered to kill people suspected of killing Jimmys older brother, attorney Lee Chagra, who was murdered in his El Paso law office two days before Christmas in 1978. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. British bus driver stops to give loose sheep a lift. They shook down everybody in South Texas.. 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. On Christmas Eve 1978, two thugs robbed Lees law office and killed him. March 3 (UPI) -- A Massachusetts library said a book was recently returned with a note apologizing for the tome being 56 years overdue. Judge Wood was the first Federal judge to be assassinated in this century. Whats Up With All the Kangaroos on the Loose in Texas? 'I have ordered the hearing continued and you can logically assume what that means,' Sessions said. Lee and Jimmy were gangsters, whereas Joe was just a kid who liked to snort coke and talk tough. 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. Jimmy was upset about that because he thought it put him under suspicion right away, Ray Jahn said. To preserve these articles as they originally appeared, The Times does not alter, edit or update them. Elizabeth Chagra: 30 years for conspiracy to murder, two concurrent five year sentences for obstruction of justice and tax evasion. 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. 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. 3 children killed, 2 hospitalized in North Texas domestic incident, 'Saving Private Ryan,' 'True Romance' actor Tom Sizemore dead at 61, Dozens killed, injured as Jakarta fuel depot fire engulfs neighborhood, Syndicated show 'Rachael Ray' wrapping 17-season run, Migrant woman dies after U.S. Coast Guard stops vessel carrying 54. ", Woman wins $100,000 lottery prize 11 hours after $11,000 casino jackpot. Jo Ann got a 25-year sentence. Jimmy Chagra, who was facing numerous narcotics charges, would become a suspect in the killing. 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. Image of Jimmy Chagra in handcuffs courtesy of the Las Vegas Review-Journal. ''I thought he should,'' Joseph Chagra said. It was a big deal; there was a lot of interest in the case, said Millsap, who later served as Bexar County district attorney. Occasionally the digitization process introduces transcription errors or other problems; we are continuing to work to improve these archived versions. He was 50. 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. He was very good at what he did, Ray Jahn said. 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. . But he had some luck when the prosecutors decided to put criminal Jerry Ray James on the stand to testify against Chagra. ''O.K., honey,'' Mrs. Chagra said she replied. 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. 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). He was 63. 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. At one point in a rambling dialogue, Jimmy warned Joe that he was up to his neck in the murder plot. circular of wanted people as a ''carpet salesman, professional gambler and narcotics trafficker.''. Allegations arose that Chagra hired Harrelson, the actor Woody Harrelsons father, to commit the murder. Wood was shot in the back with a high-powered rifle while leaving his north San Antonio townhouse for work. Jo Ann Harrelson was found guilty of conspiracy to obstruct justice. Then, copy and paste the text into your bibliography or works cited list. It was then, the Government asserted, that ''the fear began. May 29, 1979: Wood was shot to death outside his San Antonio condo. Woody Harrelson funded his fathers appeals, enlisting the aid of controversial 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. Jack Sheehan calls him the Pablo Escobar of weed. She was previously convicted of using a false name to buy a rifle, believed to be the murder weapon, and sentenced to three years. 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. Charles Manson Trial: 1970-71 January 2023 Reader Quiz: What Did You Learn? ", Anne Best, Executive Director, Family Promise, The truest measure of love is revealed by how we respond to the needs of others. 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. Judge Wood denied any impropriety and refused to remove himself from the case. The government has also won a conviction of Mrs. Harrelson for obstruction of justice and of Elizabeth Chagra, wife of another Las Vegas gambler, for conspiracy in the slaying. Wood was called 'Maximum John' for his tough sentencing policies. Great American Trials. We're not a hand-out place; we're a hand-up place.". 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. '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. 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. By September 1982, five suspects were under indictment: Joseph and Jimmy Chagra; Jimmy's wife, Elizabeth, and Mr. Harrelson and his wife, Jo Ann. He could have gone unnoticed for a long time, but he couldnt resist going to Las Vegas to see a cosmetic surgeon. Governor of Philippine province, 5 others killed in gun attack. Joe accepted a ten-year plea bargain in the Wood conspiracy, with the understanding that prosecutors would help him recover his law license. Occasionally the digitization process introduces transcription errors or other problems; we are continuing to work to improve these archived versions. 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. Middle brother Jimmy, the proverbial bad penny, used Joe as a wedge against Lee in a sibling rivalry that consumed both brothers and eventually the entire family, and as the unwitting liaison in his drug operations. SHREVEPORT, La. Joseph Chagra accepted a plea bargain. It was the first time someone assassinated a sitting federal judge. His son, Joseph Jr., said Mr. Chagra's death was caused by injuries from an automobile accident on Dec. 6 that also killed two passengers. It was a David vs. Goliath battle. In the letter, Elizabeth relayed conversations about plans to kill Wood and told of her own delivery of the payoff money to Las Vegas. She, in turn, claimed she thought the payoff was for a gambling debt, and did not believe her husband when he claimed, "This is for the judge.". Harrelson reported back that Wood could not be corrupted but had to be killed. 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's a safe wonderful environment for all those charities to be located in. 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. Chagra was a prolific marijuana smuggler and spent his ill-gotten fortune on casinos in Las Vegas, where he moved in 1978. H-E-Bs True Texas BBQ Restaurant Is Slipping, West Texans Are Learning What It Means to Live in Bear Country. What finally did Joe in was his inability to stand up to Jimmy. 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. Harrelson claimed to have killed 50 Joe Chagra ended Daniel Vaughn is the countrys first barbecue editor, and he has eaten more barbecue than you have. 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. The visiting room was bugged to gather information from mobster Nick Civella, also a Goodman client. Agents searched the El Paso homes of the Chagra family. But Im sure the Wood family feels like they were robbed, too. A few days later they returned a not-guilty verdict to the murder charge. 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. (Original Caption) A Federal jury found co-defendents Jo Ann Harrelson (L) and Elizabeth Chagra (R) guilty of charges 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. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate. Assistant United States Attorney Ray Jahn, the chief prosecutor, expressed his thanks for the verdict, saying, ''When Judge Wood died on May 29, justice did not die.''. US based Meghan and Harry.. FameChain has their amazing trees. ", 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 collaborations and friendships are blessings to me and to our organization. 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. But unknown to Harrelson, the trial had been postponed, Ray Jahn said. I promised Samantha that I would write that Joe was a good father, and I know damn well he was. 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. Jamiel Chagra's trial moved to Jacksonville, Florida. Forrest Wilder writes about politics and the outdoors. The verdicts concluded an 11-week trial that grew out of one of the most extensive Federal investigations in the nation's history, involving every one of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's 54 offices in the United States at varying times over more than three years. They talked about assassinating Judge Wood. 23 Feb. 2023 . King, Wayne. To provide a humanitarian services campus of nonprofit organizations that offer hope, opportunity, and empowerment. Yes, Chagra Russell continued. Sessions gave Chagra 30 years on the drug charges, and he was sent to Leavenworth. . Jamiel Chagra: 15 years and $120,000 fine. ", Missy Bennett, Executive Director, Operation Pretty Things, "The Harrelson Center really provides a unique opportunity to serve people holistically. 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. 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. Through these collaborations, we have been able to extend our reach to help more families in our local community. (February 23, 2023). Explore how the celebrity world connects. Three reputed Chicago mobsters were convicted in September 2007 for their involvement in a series o, To make a decision or reach a conclusion after examining all the factual evidence presented. Jo Ann Harrelson Father of Woody Harrelson and killer of federal judge John H. Wood Jr. Charles Voyde Harrelson Age 68 Born Saturday 23 Jul 1938 Died 15 ', 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.'. 'Justice Did Not Die'. She said she had not believed him. The next morning, May 29, using a high-powered rifle fitted with a scope, that man fired a shot that would be heard around the world. Anyone can read what you share. Ive published three articles in this magazine about Wood and the Chagras, but Ive never written all I knowuntil now. Mrs. Harrelson faces up to 25 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. February 2023 Reader Quiz: What Did You Learn? While awaiting trial, Chagra came into contact with career criminal Charles Harrelson, father of actor Woody Harrelson, in Las Vegas. He claimed that a fellow gambler, George (Pete) Kay had bilked Jamiel Chagra by claiming that Charles Harrelson had killed the judge and should collect the $250,000 fee. Refer to each styles convention regarding the best way to format page numbers and retrieval dates. JERRY LARA, Staff / San Antonio Express-News. Tapes of Jerry Ray James' extensive conversations with Jamiel spelled out details of the plot to kill the judge. He was sentenced to two life sentences. Reports suggest Prince Charles will live "in a flat above the shop" when he becomes king. Great American Trials. 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). Jo Ann Harrelson was found guilty of conspiracy to obstruct justice. Guillermo has been with the Express-News for 20 years, and has covered federal court and its investigative agencies for most of that time. -- 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. The bug picked up Chagra talking with his wife and brother Joe about the judges murder. 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. From online or printed 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. Goodman recognized the error of their plan when the trees in the scale model had no leaves on them. 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. Someone could have done a movie not only on the case, but on the people who got the reward.. He was bringing in freighter ships of marijuana in the 70s.. Joseph Chagra refused to testify against his own brother Jamiel (Jimmy), however. 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. Newsweek (June 22, 1981). 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. Chagras operation had links to the Patriarca crime family in New England. The Jo Ann Carter Harrelson Center Inc. is a North 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. Wood died in 1979 when he was assassinated by Charles Harrelson. It killed U.S. District Judge John H. Wood Jr. the first federal judge to be assassinated in the country. 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. Therefore, that information is unavailable for most Encyclopedia.com content. Harrelson was sentenced to two consecutive life terms plus five years, while Jo Ann Harrelson got a combined 25 years for obstruction of justice. Jo Ann Harrelson, whose daughter has been imprisoned more than three months for refusing to testify before a federal grand jury, walked away from the federal courthouse in San Antonio without being held in contempt. Judge Wood, known as "maximum John" because of the heavy sentences he had imposed on drug dealers, had presided over the pretrial hearing of Jamiel Chagra, denying 20 defense motions. He gave us details that only he knew, Ray Jahn said. 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. WebTo provide a humanitarian services campus of nonprofit organizations that offer hope, opportunity, and empowerment. However, the date of retrieval is often important. 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. The map led the feds to learn that the murder weapon had been purchased by Harrelsons wife, Jo Ann. 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. The defense sought a change of venue, but the requests were denied. Joseph testified as well against his own sister-in-law Elizabeth Chagra, and Harrelson's wife, Jo Ann. 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. 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. Encyclopedia.com. Now, perhaps due to our improved stature, our incoming donations are 80% new! Investigators questioned several long-term convicts, offering reduced sentences for information about the judge's killing. 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. A portrait of Federal Judge John H. Wood, Jr. hangs at the Federal Courthouse, Monday, August 7, 2017. She recovered quickly and later said she was fine. At the end of the hearing, Jamiel turned to his brother and attorney, Joseph Chagra, and said he would never have a fair trial. 'She has reached a point where the evidence is up to her ears and she's floundering in it. ", -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. 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. At least 5 dead following year's first severe spring weather outbreak. Elizabeth Chagra was convicted of conspiracy to In a series of videotaped interviews after his release from prison, Chagra told Las Vegas author Jack Sheehan that his prosecution was the result of a beef Wood had against his older brother Lee.