jo ann harrelson jo ann harrelson

The defendants were charged under Federal statutes governing the killing of a Federal employee. But as his lawyer, Harrelson reasoned, anything Joe discovered about Woods murder would have to be kept confidential because of attorney-client privilege. But in the interviews, Chagra described himself as a megalomaniac.. Jimmy Chagras separate trial moved to Jacksonville, Florida. Space-X continues to reach for the stars. Harrelson said that Kay had about $135,000 of the payoff money delivered to him by Elizabeth Chagra as part of the scam. 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. I visited him several times, once with my wife, Phyllis. The map led the feds to learn that the murder weapon had been purchased by Harrelsons wife, Jo Ann. 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. 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. 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. Jack Sheehan has been living and writing in Las Vegas for 40 years. 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. It is believed to be correct at the time of inputting and is presented here in good faith. Most online reference entries and articles do not have page numbers. It was just incredible, said Millsap, the former district attorney. U.S. District Judge John H. Wood was assassinated in San Antonio May 29, 1979, by Charles Harrelson. 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. Everybody got hurt in this. The first giraffe in San Antonio was part of a traveling circus that stopped here in 1901. 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. After marrying his third wife, he died of cancer in July 2008 while living in Mesa, Arizona, under the name James Madrid, several news outlets reported. At one point in a rambling dialogue, Jimmy warned Joe that he was up to his neck in the murder plot. Charles Harrelson Trial: 1982-83 | Encyclopedia.com '', The fear, the Government asserted, was that of Jamiel Chagra, once described on an F.B.I. 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. -- 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 case was unique in that the courts all the way up the line blessed the decisions below, Campion said of appeals that followed. Bring on the Shiplap. Copyright FameChain 2023, All rights reserved. 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 Suspected burglar inside New Brunswick home was a panicked deer. Daniel's 5th outing as Bond gets bums back on seats in the cinema. Dozens killed, injured as Jakarta fuel depot fire engulfs neighborhood. Chagra was let out on bail and he disappeared. Joseph Chagra accepted a plea bargain. It was then, the Government asserted, that ''the fear began. 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. The visiting room was bugged to gather information from mobster Nick Civella, also a Goodman client. Woody Harrelsons Dad: What To Know About His Hitman Father, CHAGRA: ASSASSINATION OF JUDGE JOHN WOOD AND LINKS TO CHARLES HARRELSON, FATHER OF WOODY. He called himself ''a card mechanic'' so talented with a deck that he could deal any hands requested around a table. The Harrelson Center | Our Mission 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. Jamiel Chagra: 15 years and $120,000 fine. He has said he is a key suspect in Wood's slaying on May 29, 1979. 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. A short time later, Joe was arrested and held without bail, as were Jo Ann Jo Ann, convicted of conspiracy to obstruct justice and perjury, was later paroled. Mr. Harrelson also said that Mr. Kay had $135,000 to $150,000 delivered to him as part of the ''scam.'' killed Judge Wood in exchange for a promised $250,000 payment by Jamiel Chagra. Woody Harrelson funded his fathers appeals, enlisting the aid of controversial 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. ", Anne Best, Executive Director, Family Promise, The truest measure of love is revealed by how we respond to the needs of others. 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. Jos R. Ralat is Texas Monthlys taco editor, writing about tacos and Mexican food. The Chagras said they were convinced that Judge Wood, who was scheduled to preside over Jimmy's case, had a bias against them. See the article in its original context from. 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. 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. 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. Rob Condon, Executive Director, Young Scientists Academy, "We have been at the Harrelson Center for 3 years and it's been a dream come true! In death as in life, El Paso crime family scion Joe Chagra is getting a bad rap. 'Mrs. You cant imagine the shock when Jimmy Chagra was acquitted.. As a result, people used him. Three years later, after moving to the Harrelson Center, we have a staff of 18 and are serving some 1500 people. Goodman recognized the error of their plan when the trees in the scale model had no leaves on them. 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. The Harrelson Center | Home 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. Harrelson claimed that he was set up. They shook down everybody in South Texas.. The bug picked up Chagra talking with his wife and brother Joe about the judges murder. It also resulted in a group of lawyers and businessmen bankrolling a $100,000 reward, which became instrumental in solving the case. People with hearts to serve and love to give.thats what you will find at the Harrelson Center. They said no. The casinos loved him, of course, and their dealers loved him, too, because he was a big tipper. If you fill out the first name, last name, or agree to terms fields, you will NOT be added to the newsletter list. Elizabeth Chagra: 30 years for conspiracy to murder, two concurrent five year sentences for obstruction of justice and tax evasion. They tortured her for no (reason). James had a deal to receive $250,000 from the government if Chagra was convicted. The Chagras were known as key members of a so-called Dixie Mafia, heavily involved in drug smuggling. Joe Chagra testified that the first mention of having Wood murdered came in the judges courtroom in April 1979, after Jimmy Chagra lost a motion to remove Wood from his drug case. The feds indicted Jimmy Chagra, Charles Harrelson, Joe Chagra, Liz Chagra and Jo Ann Harrelson in the judges murder. Charles Manson Trial: 1970-71 Great American Trials. He has also covered immigration, minority affairs and legal affairs as part of the projects team here and for other print, TV and radio outlets. with Diane Harrelson{ "@context": "http://schema.org", "@type": "Person", "name": "Diane Harrelson", "gender": "Female" }. 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 police officer stopped his car. Firefighters hoist horse stranded in backyard swimming pool. 'I have ordered the hearing continued and you can logically assume what that means,' Sessions said. Goodman faced a monumental task to win the case. 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. He was 50. 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 Good Fella Texas Monthly In his testimony, Mr. Harrelson said he was ''set up'' by George Edward (Pete) Kay, another gambler. Jo Ann Harrelson: 25 years for obstruction of justice and perjury. Thursday, May 28: Oscars Case of the Century: The Life and Crimes of Jimmy Chagra Courtroom Conversations, Acquitted of hiring actor Woody Harrelsons dad to murder Judge Maximum John Wood, Got off on a once-in-a-lifetime miracle defense by attorney Oscar Goodman, Spearheaded one of the biggest drug-smuggling rings in the country, Bet millions and tipped big, a Las Vegas high roller, Had links to New Englands Patriarca crime family, Lived a life surrounded by mobsters, murder, career criminals and conspiracies, Journalist Jack Sheehan, who interviewed Chagra extensively, Moderator Geoff Schumacher, director of content at The Mob Museum. Crimes Charged: First-degree murder an, Murder He wasnt a criminal; he was a nice person, she added. And You Thought Feral Hogs Were Bad. From start to finish, I was treated with kindness and dignity. 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. Now, perhaps due to our improved stature, our incoming donations are 80% new! The center supports its partners with below-market rental rates that cover all utilities, parking and security. British bus driver stops to give loose sheep a lift. By that time the FBI investigation into the judges assassination was more than two years old. 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 mean I had so much money, so much power, Chagra said. Judge Woods 1979 slaying by Charles Harrelson was crime of the To preserve these articles as they originally appeared, The Times does not alter, edit or update them. Then, copy and paste the text into your bibliography or works cited list. I promised Samantha that I would write that Joe was a good father, and I know damn well he was. She recovered quickly and later said she was fine. Tips poured in. SHREVEPORT, La. Because Joe was simultaneously representing Jimmy, who was serving thirty years without parole on a drug charge at the federal prison in Leavenworth, Kansas, Harrelson had to assume that sooner or later Joe would learn the truth. He lost millions at the craps tables as well as in gin rummy games and on golf courses. 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. Charles Harrelson, arrives at the U.S. She was previously convicted of using a It was a big deal to a lot of people, concurred lawyer Charles Campion, who defended Harrelsons wife, Jo Ann Harrelson, the woman who bought the murder weapon. 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. Years later, the trial of Charles V. Harrelson revealed that Bill Bannister was a pseudonym Harrelson used to help track the judge, who was shot in the back outside his Alamo Heights townhome less than 2 miles from the motel as he was leaving for work. Investigators suspected that the murder was somehow connected to the growing drug trade in Texas. 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. Donald asks the courts to let him tweet. A portrait of Federal Judge John H. Wood, Jr. hangs at the Federal Courthouse. 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 thought that was the day he had to kill the judge.. 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. 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 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. All relationship and family history information shown on FameChain has been compiled from data in the public domain. 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. Harrelson was sentenced to two consecutive life terms plus five years, while Jo Ann Harrelson got a combined 25 years for obstruction of justice. 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. 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. Joseph Chagra refused to testify against his own brother Jamiel (Jimmy), however. Woody Harrelson's dad was hitman who murdered judge and 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. Harrelson reported back that Wood could not be corrupted but had to be killed. In the letter, Elizabeth relayed conversations about plans to kill Wood and told of her own delivery of the payoff money to Las Vegas. 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. Yes, Chagra Russell continued. ', 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.'. King, Wayne. 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. However, the date of retrieval is often important. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. His court-appointed attorney, Thomas G. Sharpe, who defended him on two previous murder-for-hire charges, one ending in acquittal and the other in a 15-year sentence, said the verdict would be appealed. Lee considered Joe his property and took what he wanted, including Joes first serious girlfriend. 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. All but Jimmy live in El Paso. Woody Harrelson is a beloved actor, but he has a troublesome legacy. Judge Wood denied any impropriety and refused to remove himself from the case. He has published 21 books and screenplays, including many on Las Vegas history and historical figures. Editor's note: This story originally published in a 2017 series honoring the 300th anniversary of San Antonio.A man named Bill Bannister registered at the Town House motel on Loop 410 on Memorial Day 1979. 10/19/1981 - Charles V. Harrelson, charged in the murder of U.S. District Judge John H. Wood, in court. ", -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. Joe was a genuinely nice guy who was congenitally unable to say no. He gave us details that only he knew, Ray Jahn said. Retrieved February 23, 2023 from Encyclopedia.com: https://www.encyclopedia.com/law/law-magazines/charles-harrelson-trial-1982-83. Over time, we became friends. Oscar Goodman and Joe Chagra were Jimmys attorneys. Later, Chagra admitted to the judges murder and to the attempted murder of Kerr in an effort to free his wife from prison. https://www.encyclopedia.com/law/law-magazines/charles-harrelson-trial-1982-83, "Charles Harrelson Trial: 1982-83 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. "The Judge Wood Murder Case." Harrelson had been a suspect, but so had several others. Copyright 2023 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. On another visit Jimmy told Joe, Youre the one who said, Do it, do it, do it. Joe tried to conceal his shock by talking tough, saying he never thought his brother would hire an asshole like Harrelson. Jimmy Chagra was released from federal prison in 2003 and entered the witness-protection program. Chagra went into the Witness Protection Program in Arizona, and remarried. Jo Ann had purchased the rifle under a false name, Mrs. "Fay King." ''O.K., honey,'' Mrs. Chagra said she replied. The desire to give and serve others stems from a place of earnest compassion. ", 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. If I'm not the expert in one area, I know already that somebody is within the Harrelson Center. Kathryn Wood, the widow of the slain judge, provided a five-page handwritten letter from Elizabeth Chagra, apologizing for her involvement in the murder. Though he and his wife, Patty, divorced, they remained close. ", Woman wins $100,000 lottery prize 11 hours after $11,000 casino jackpot. Copyright 2023 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. In the 1970s, Jimmy Chagra was the marijuana kingpin of the Western world. Jo Ann Harrelson Family Tree & History, Ancestry & Genealogy ." Chagra told Sheehan that he offered to plead guilty to having Judge Wood murdered, if theyd release my wife. Joseph Chagra pled guilty to the charge of conspiracy to commit murder and received a sentence of ten years. 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. A short time later, Joe was arrested and held without bail, as were Jo Ann Harrelson and Liz Chagra, Jimmys wife, who was heard on another wiretap talking about delivering the payoff money. 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. 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. Elizabeth Chagra was convicted of conspiracy to There was a lot of internal pressure.. In 2006, he did some videotaped interviews with Las Vegas journalist Jack Sheehan. He asked if he should have Judge Wood killed. What finally did Joe in was his inability to stand up to Jimmy. Explore how the celebrity world connects. 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. Encyclopedia.com. Charles and Jo Ann Harrelson and Liz Chagra were convicted at trial. Newsweek (June 22, 1981). 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. 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. Once he paid off a cocktail waitress $50,000 mortgage when he heard she was raising three kids on her own. 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. The government also taped other conversations, including some between Charles Harrelson and his attorney, and others between Joseph and Jamiel Chagra. Agents searched the El Paso homes of the Chagra family. ", - Jim Everette, Harrelson Center Ex-Officio Board Member, We are all different parts, but part of the same body. Mr. Chagra was one of three sons of a Lebanese rug merchant who had emigrated from Mexico to El Paso.