In his testimony, Mr. Harrelson said he was ''set up'' by George Edward (Pete) Kay, another gambler. '', The fear, the Government asserted, was that of Jamiel Chagra, once described on an F.B.I. 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. He was a cheat, he was a con man and he was a murderer. Charles Harrelson was born on July 23rd, 1938, in Lovelady, Texas, the son of Alma Lee (ne Sparks; 19072002) and Voyde Harrelson (19011976). Yes, Chagra Russell continued. Mrs. Harrelson faces up to 25 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. Jo Ann Harrelson was convicted of conspiracy to obstruct justice and later convicted of five counts of perjury. The Jo Ann Carter Harrelson Center Inc. is a North Agents searched the El Paso homes of the Chagra family. There was a lot of internal pressure.. Kellyanne Conway and George Conway to divorce after 22 years of Within the Cite this article tool, pick a style to see how all available information looks when formatted according to that style. This synergistic environment allows all the nonprofits to operate more efficiently and better utilize their funding. 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. Joe Chagra ended up serving 6 years of his 10-year sentence, and he died in a car crash in El Paso in 1996 after his release. They tortured her for no (reason). 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. 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. 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. Image of Jimmy Chagra in handcuffs courtesy of the Las Vegas Review-Journal. The jury found Chagra guilty. WebJo Ann Harrelson and Elizabeth Chagra Arriving at Court. Since arriving, our vision has become reality. They pulled out all the stops. 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. Elizabeth Chagra: conspiracy to murder and conspiracy to obstruct justice; separate indictment on income tax evasion. Elizabeth Chagra admitted she delivered the money but said she did not know what it was for. Murder is perhaps the single most serious criminal offense. Lee, his eldest brother, brought Joe into his law partnership largely to enhance his own self-esteem as patrn of the Chagra family. At trial, the Jahns put on a parade of star witnesses that included Harrelsons cellmate and Joe Chagra, both of whom had been told by Harrelson that he carried out the hit. 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. Thursday, May 28: Oscar's "Case of the Century": The Life 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. TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. Then-FBI Director William Webster dispatched dozens of agents to San Antonio for a massive investigation that resulted in Harrelson and four others being charged in connection with Woods assassination a killing still etched in the citys lore. "Charles Harrelson Trial: 1982-83 Joseph Chagra accepted a plea bargain. 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. Jimmy Chagras separate trial moved to Jacksonville, Florida. After the verdict, Mr. Harrelson said, ''It's just a necessary step in the progression of things.'' Chagra also was a prime suspect in the attempted murder of Assistant U.S. Attorney James Kerr of San Antonio. Therefore, that information is unavailable for most Encyclopedia.com content. Jo Ann Harrelson: guilty of conspiracy to obstruct justice, perjury. He was serving a 30-year sentence there that he received on the drug charge that was to be tried before Judge 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. 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. Defendants: Charles Manson, Susan Atkins, Patricia Krenwinkel, Leslie Van Houten Joseph Chagra did not testify. 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. Jimmy was upset about that because he thought it put him under suspicion right away, Ray Jahn said. 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. Chip Gaines Bought Larry McMurtrys Historic Texas Bookstore. 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. Goodman faced a monumental task to win the case. Jo Ann, convicted of conspiracy to obstruct justice and perjury, was later paroled. Copyright 2023 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. But unknown to Harrelson, the trial had been postponed, Ray Jahn said. She was previously convicted of using a Crimes Charged: First-degree murder an, Murder Though he and his wife, Patty, divorced, they remained close. 23 Feb. 2023 . March 3 (UPI) -- A Massachusetts library said a book was recently returned with a note apologizing for the tome being 56 years overdue. 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. . Investigators questioned several long-term convicts, offering reduced sentences for information about the judge's killing. ", Missy Bennett, Executive Director, Operation Pretty Things, "The Harrelson Center really provides a unique opportunity to serve people holistically. Copyright FameChain 2023, All rights reserved. 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. 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. TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. "The Judge Wood Murder Case." 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. In a plea agreement, Joe Chagra got a 10-year sentence. Thursday, May 28: Oscar's "Case of the Century": The Life Goodman recognized the error of their plan when the trees in the scale model had no leaves on them. This is a digitized version of an article from The Timess print archive, before the start of online publication in 1996. "Charles Harrelson Trial: 1982-83 Mr. Harrelson's wife, Jo Ann, was found guilty of conspiracy to obstruct justice, the only charge against her in this case. Through these collaborations, we have been able to extend our reach to help more families in our local community. He was sentenced to two life sentences. 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. Joseph Chagra refused to testify against his own brother Jamiel (Jimmy), however. The trial for the Harrelsons and Elizabeth Chagra took place in the newly named John H. Wood Jr. courthouse over objections from defense lawyers. Joseph agreed that he should. He was 63. A portrait of Federal Judge John H. Wood, Jr. hangs at the Federal Courthouse, Monday, August 7, 2017. Without his brother's testimony, Jamiel was acquitted of conspiracy to murder charges. Joe was stunned. By Wayne King, Special To the New York Times. 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. Occasionally the digitization process introduces transcription errors or other problems; we are continuing to work to improve these archived versions. 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. Jo Ann Harrelson was convicted of conspiracy to obstruct justice and later convicted of five counts of perjury. He has published 21 books and screenplays, including many on Las Vegas history and historical figures. ." It also resulted in a group of lawyers and businessmen bankrolling a $100,000 reward, which became instrumental in solving the case. He enjoyed a high-rolling lifestyle at Caesars Palace and Binions Horseshoe but he was not a very good gambler. The gun rap seemed routine until Harrelson was arrested following a cocaine-induced standoff near Van Horn, at which time his motive became clear. It was the crime of the century, in San Antonio for sure, said local defense lawyer Alan Brown, who represented people who were rounded up during the investigation but never charged in the murder. New York Times (December 15, 1982). He called himself ''a card mechanic'' so talented with a deck that he could deal any hands requested around a table. Sessions will preside over the March 14 trial in Shreveport of Chagra, Mrs. Chagra, and Mrs. Chagra's father, Leon Nichols, on tax evasion charges. 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. 3 children killed, 2 hospitalized in North Texas domestic incident. Assistant U.S. Attorney James Kerr, who had prosecuted several drug cases before Judge Wood, had barely escaped an assassination attempt some six months before Wood was killed. In addition to the MLA, Chicago, and APA styles, your school, university, publication, or institution may have its own requirements for citations. Chagra told Sheehan that he offered to plead guilty to having Judge Wood murdered, if theyd release my wife. Encyclopedia.com. The only other person in the world who knew that Harrelson did the hit on Judge Wood was Jimmy, who ordered it. 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. Oscar Goodman and Joe Chagra were Jimmys attorneys. It was a David vs. Goliath battle. separate, there is cohesiveness. Instead, that day he was shot as he was leaving for court. 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. See the article in its original context from. But he had some luck when the prosecutors decided to put criminal Jerry Ray James on the stand to testify against Chagra. If he didnt concoct a lie about how he was really part of the conspiracy, thus allowing him to testify against Harrelson, he believed he would face a total of thirty-five to forty years on drug charges. Great American Trials. However, the date of retrieval is often important. 'The hearing will continue when I hear further from the government or the witness (Mrs. 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. Midland was in the jurisdiction of U.S. District Judge John Wood, known as Maximum John for his tough prison sentences in drug cases. Livestreaming available the night of the event by clicking here. But Joe absolutely refused to testify against his brother as a matter of family honor. Click here to Start FameChaining. 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. 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. Daniel's 5th outing as Bond gets bums back on seats in the cinema. 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. . 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 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. ", -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. Elizabeth Chagra died in prison of ovarian cancer in September 1997 at age 43. You know Harrelson knocked off the judge, Jimmy told him. The real shock, however, was yet to come: The FBI was bugging Harrelsons celland also the visitors room at Leavenworth, where Joe was routinely subjected to Jimmys abuse. Charles Harrelson arrives at Federal Court 11-8-82 for his trial in the slaying of federal judge Wood. Harrelson reported back that Wood could not be corrupted but had to be killed. 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. However, there was no physical evidence and investigators had to rely on circumstantial evidence and informants. 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. killed Judge Wood in exchange for a promised $250,000 payment by Jamiel Chagra. 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. Everybody got hurt in this. Russian defense minister visits front lines as Ukraine's hold on Bakhmut slips. 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. 'Justice Did Not Die'. Whats Up With All the Kangaroos on the Loose in Texas? 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. In exchange for agreeing to testify against Harrelson claimed that he was set up. Liz got a 30-year sentence. At one point in a rambling dialogue, Jimmy warned Joe that he was up to his neck in the murder plot. Jo Ann Harrelson and Elizabeth Chagra Arriving at Court - Getty Should you have information that conflicts with anything shown please make us aware by email. She had then given the rifle to George Kay. 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 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. In the 1970s, Jimmy Chagra was the marijuana kingpin of the Western world. 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. ", - Kim Ceasar, Executive Director, Soaring As Eagles, "The Harrelson Center changes the lives of people in amazing ways. By September 1982, five suspects were under indictment: Joseph and Jimmy Chagra; Jimmy's wife, Elizabeth, and Mr. Harrelson and his wife, Jo Ann. 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. 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. 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. Minnesota officer removes jar from raccoon's head. The $450,000 they took from the office safe was money Jimmy owed to mob boss Joe Bonanno, Sr., for a busted drug deal. She was previously convicted of using a false name to buy a rifle, believed to be the murder weapon, and sentenced to three years. Chagra was a prolific marijuana smuggler and spent his ill-gotten fortune on casinos in Las Vegas, where he moved in 1978. It is believed to be correct at the time of inputting and is presented here in good faith. Support is U.S. District Judge William Sessions did not schedule sentencing for Mrs. Harrelson, who was to be returned today to the Federal Correctional Institute in Fort Worth, Texas. On Feb. 26, 1979, he was indicted on five counts of trafficking in marijuana and cocaine. Joe accepted a ten-year plea bargain in the Wood conspiracy, with the understanding that prosecutors would help him recover his law license. Harrelson was sentenced to two consecutive life terms plus five years, while Jo Ann Harrelson got a combined 25 years for obstruction of justice. 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. In addition to his son and brother, Mr. Chagra is survived by his mother, Josephine, and two sisters, Samantha and Patsy. Once he paid off a cocktail waitress $50,000 mortgage when he heard she was raising three kids on her own. They said no. 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. Anyone can read what you share. All but Jimmy live in El Paso. According to the F.B.I. Judge Woods 1979 slaying by Charles Harrelson was crime of the He was 50. A portrait of Federal Judge John H. Wood, Jr. hangs at the Federal Courthouse. 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.. Judge Wood denied any impropriety and refused to remove himself from the case. The center supports its partners with below-market rental rates that cover all utilities, parking and security. Chagra went into the Witness Protection Program in Arizona, and remarried. 10/19/1981 - Charles V. Harrelson, charged in the murder of U.S. District Judge John H. Wood, in court. ", Anne Best, Executive Director, Family Promise, The truest measure of love is revealed by how we respond to the needs of others. 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. ''I asked him if he was the one who murdered Judge Wood, and he said he was,'' Mr. Chagra testified in a San Antonio Federal Court. The first giraffe in San Antonio was part of a traveling circus that stopped here in 1901. In 1979, a federal grand jury in Midland, Texas, indicted Chagra on drug smuggling charges. 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. 'She has reached a point where the evidence is up to her ears and she's floundering in it.