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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. '', The fear, the Government asserted, was that of Jamiel Chagra, once described on an F.B.I. Judge Wood hated my brother Lee so much that he wanted a Chagra any way he could get him, Chagra said, according to a clip of the interviews posted on the internet. In the 1970s, Jimmy Chagra was the marijuana kingpin of the Western world. WebThe map led the feds to learn that the murder weapon had been purchased by Harrelsons wife, Jo Ann. Firefighters hoist horse stranded in backyard swimming pool. "Foster Pantry moved on campus in May 2021 after joining the Harrelson Center initially as an Associate Partner in 2019. Click here to Start FameChaining. Joe was a genuinely nice guy who was congenitally unable to say no. Jimmy Carters Peanut-and-Egg Taco Made Quite the Impression on San Antonians. 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. circular of wanted people as a ''carpet salesman, professional gambler and narcotics trafficker.''. Lee, his eldest brother, brought Joe into his law partnership largely to enhance his own self-esteem as patrn of the Chagra family. (February 23, 2023). Good Fella Texas Monthly Jo Ann Harrelson was summoned before a federal grand jury in the Western District of Texas investigating her husband's complicity in the murder. Jack Sheehan has been living and writing in Las Vegas for 40 years. ", - Jim Everette, Harrelson Center Ex-Officio Board Member, We are all different parts, but part of the same body. Mr. Harrelson's wife, Jo Ann, was found guilty of conspiracy to obstruct justice, the only charge against her in this case. Wood was called 'Maximum John' for his tough sentencing policies. On Christmas Eve 1978, two thugs robbed Lees law office and killed him. A few days later they returned a not-guilty verdict to the murder charge. 1985) Annotate this Case US Court of Appeals for the You know Harrelson knocked off the judge, Jimmy told him. 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. 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. Kellyanne Conway and George Conway to divorce after 22 years of 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. Bobby Harrelson said it best in Crazy Like A Fox, an article in Wilmington Magazine. Here, we have shared resources, funding, and space with the Center just bringing it all together. 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. The Harrelson Center | Our Mission 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. The jury started deliberating on Feb. 3, 1983. He told Joe about the contract and drew a map showing where he had hidden the murder rifle. Judge Sessions gave Chagra only 10 additional years on his sentence, making him eligible for parole in 2007. He wasnt a criminal; he was a nice person, she added. 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. Everybody got hurt in this. Charles Harrelson & Jo Ann Harrelson Divorced, Joint Family Tree 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. 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 Jo Ann Harrelson convicted of perjury - UPI Archives In his testimony over more than five days on the witness stand, Mr. Harrelson said he had gone to lure Jamiel Chagra into a crooked card game. Chagra was once held by Colombian authorities after his drug-smuggling plane crashed there. 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. However, U.S. District Judge William S. Sessions ordered the hearing continued at a later date, indicating Mrs. Harrelson still faces possible imprisonment. Jo Ann Harrelson was convicted of conspiracy to obstruct justice and later convicted of five counts of perjury. He set up his family on a farm in Kansas. 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. 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. Consequently, they got a bunch of bad stories, a bunch of bad information.. The three had risen from an unremarkable middle-class upbringing to live among El Paso's wealthiest residents. 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). Support is ", - Kim Ceasar, Executive Director, Soaring As Eagles, "The Harrelson Center changes the lives of people in amazing ways. There was a lot of internal pressure.. The gun rap seemed routine until Harrelson was arrested following a cocaine-induced standoff near Van Horn, at which time his motive became clear. One, Jerry Ray James, befriended Jamiel Chagra in prison and allowed his conversations to be secretly taped. 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. Great American Trials. -- 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. Great American Trials. The desire to give and serve others stems from a place of earnest compassion. The case was unique in that the courts all the way up the line blessed the decisions below, Campion said of appeals that followed. Former U.S. serviceman sentenced to 45 years for planning attack on fellow soldiers. When the murder trial got underway in San Antonio, in exchange for a guilty plea to commit conspiracy to murder and a sentence of 10 years, Joseph Chagra testified against Harrelson, who he claimed was the hit man. CHAGRA: ASSASSINATION OF JUDGE JOHN WOOD AND LINKS TO CHARLES HARRELSON, FATHER OF WOODY. King, Wayne. Mrs. Chagra was found guilty of conspiracy to commit murder and conspiracy to obstruct justice. In exchange for agreeing to testify against Whats Up With All the Kangaroos on the Loose in Texas? 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. 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). 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. Over time, we became friends. 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. He said that Mr. Kay had bilked Jamiel Chagra by telling him that it was he, Charles Harrelson, who had shot the judge and should collect the $250,000 payoff. The trial grew out of one of the largest FBI investigations in history, taking three years and over $5 million. She was previously convicted of using a Charles wife at the time, ", Anne Best, Executive Director, Family Promise, The truest measure of love is revealed by how we respond to the needs of others. Minnesota officer removes jar from raccoon's head. According to the F.B.I. Prosecutors said Mrs. Harrelson lied to FBI agents, to a grand jury and in her previous trial. The Jo Ann Carter Harrelson Center Inc. is a North Carolina nonprofit corporation 501c3 (EIN 20-3598248) that supports and partners with other nonprofit organizations in the Wilmington community. WebJo Ann Harrelson's in laws: All relationship and family history information shown on FameChain has been compiled from data in the public domain. The investigation cost more than $11 million, at the time the most extensive investigation in the bureaus history. 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. ." 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. Jimmy's trial was scheduled to begin on the day the judge died. SHREVEPORT, La. It was the huge stepping stone we needed to be able to increase our impact on the community and really do right by our clients. Explore how the celebrity world connects. 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, Woody Harrelsons Dad: What To Know About His Hitman Father, Elizabeth Chagra: 30 years for conspiracy to murder, two concurrent five year sentences for obstruction of justice and tax evasion. Drug Dealer's Wife Is Guilty. 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. Harrelson, a card gambling felon and accused hit man with ties to organized crime, was the father of actor Woody Harrelson and met Jimmy Chagra in Vegas in 1979 after being paroled in an unrelated murder case. The seven-woman, five-man federal jury returned guilty verdicts on five counts of perjury after deliberating 2 hours. Mrs. Harrelson, who had said she was '99 percent sure' she would be jailed Monday, is the wife of convicted hit man Charles V. Harrelson, who is imprisoned in Houston on state charges. 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. He gave us details that only he knew, Ray Jahn said. In addition to his son and brother, Mr. Chagra is survived by his mother, Josephine, and two sisters, Samantha and Patsy. TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. 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.. Elizabeth Chagra was convicted of conspiracy to murder and conspiracy to obstruct justice. See the article in its original context from. Jo Ann Harrelson and Elizabeth Chagra Arriving at Court - Getty 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. Though he and his wife, Patty, divorced, they remained close. May 29, 1979: Wood was shot to death outside his San Antonio condo. Murder is perhaps the single most serious criminal offense. But Joe absolutely refused to testify against his brother as a matter of family honor. Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography. All but Jimmy live in El Paso. 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. 'Justice Did Not Die'. Judge Woods 1979 slaying by Charles Harrelson was crime of the The only other person in the world who knew that Harrelson did the hit on Judge Wood was Jimmy, who ordered it. Joseph Chagra, 50, Lawyer Linked to Assassination, Dies On Express-News.com: Judge Sarah Garrahan-Moulder, who helped prosecute hit man Charles Harrelson in San Antonio, dies at 84. 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. Judge Wood was the first Federal judge to be assassinated in this century. Joe accepted a ten-year plea bargain in the Wood conspiracy, with the understanding that prosecutors would help him recover his law license. Charles Harrelson arrives at Federal Court 11-8-82 for his trial in the slaying of federal judge Wood. 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. Occasionally the digitization process introduces transcription errors or other problems; we are continuing to work to improve these archived versions. "It's a safe wonderful environment for all those charities to be located in. This synergistic environment allows all the nonprofits to operate more efficiently and better utilize their funding. 2019Encyclopedia.com | All rights reserved. He asked if he should have Judge Wood killed. Jimmy told me he was never going to get a fair trial and asked if I thought he should try having Judge Wood killed, Joe Chagra testified, according to newspaper stories at the time. 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. "Charles Harrelson Trial: 1982-83 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. She also said that when she had demurred about delivering the money, thinking it was a gambling payoff, he had hissed, ''This is for the judge.'' Allegations arose that Chagra hired Harrelson, the actor Woody Harrelsons father, to commit the murder. Anyone can read what you share. But Im sure the Wood family feels like they were robbed, too. At least 5 dead following year's first severe spring weather outbreak. Charles Harrelson Trial: 1982-83 | Encyclopedia.com 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. 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. Circuit Court of Appeals overturned the conspiracy conviction February 15, 1985, on the grounds that the prosecution failed to show premeditation and malice. 'I have ordered the hearing continued and you can logically assume what that means,' Sessions said. When the government offered to try Jimmy separately in its desperation to nail Harrelson, Joe found himself in a predicament. 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. 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. Because he was a model prisoner Joe ended up spending only six and a half years behind bars. Joseph agreed that he should. Judge Woods 1979 slaying by Charles Harrelson was crime of the century, San Antonio Zoo has a long but spotty history with giraffes. Charles Harrelson under arrest in 1982 for the slaying of federal judge John Wood. Chip Gaines Bought Larry McMurtrys Historic Texas Bookstore. 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. 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.