JERRY LARA, Staff / San Antonio Express-News. On Express-News.com: Judge Sarah Garrahan-Moulder, who helped prosecute hit man Charles Harrelson in San Antonio, dies at 84. 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. Daniel Vaughn is the countrys first barbecue editor, and he has eaten more barbecue than you have. Then, in the eight years after his release, Joe stayed clean and became a health nut. Occasionally the digitization process introduces transcription errors or other problems; we are continuing to work to improve these archived versions. 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. Jack Sheehan calls him the Pablo Escobar of weed. 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. She was previously convicted of using a false name to buy a rifle, believed to be the murder weapon, and sentenced to three years. WebThe map led the feds to learn that the murder weapon had been purchased by Harrelsons wife, Jo Ann. After 18 hours of deliberation, a Federal jury, several members in tears, found three defendants guilty today on six counts of planning, carrying out and trying to cover up the assassination of Federal District Judge John H. Wood Jr. After the collective verdicts were announced, each of the nine women and three men on the jury, which began deliberating Saturday, was polled individually on all six counts. 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. The feds indicted Jimmy Chagra, Charles Harrelson, Joe Chagra, Liz Chagra and Jo Ann Harrelson in the judges murder. He believed in the justice system, but it didnt do right by him., Do I feel like he got robbed? 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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. 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. 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 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 gun rap seemed routine until Harrelson was arrested following a cocaine-induced standoff near Van Horn, at which time his motive became clear. 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. To preserve these articles as they originally appeared, The Times does not alter, edit or update them. (Original Caption) A Federal jury found co-defendents Jo Ann Harrelson (L) and Elizabeth Chagra (R) guilty of charges As of mid-2001, the appeal remained postponed. Explore how the celebrity world connects. 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. She recovered quickly and later said she was fine. He was very good at what he did, Ray Jahn said. Woody Harrelson's dad was hitman who murdered judge and The Unfair Trial Of A Confessed Outlaw - Medium In death as in life, El Paso crime family scion Joe Chagra is getting a bad rap. Talented With Cards. Elizabeth Chagra admitted she delivered the money but said she did not know what it was for. It was a big deal; there was a lot of interest in the case, said Millsap, who later served as Bexar County district attorney. Thats not the problem I have, Ray Jahn quoted Jimmy Chagra as telling Harrelson. But his wife was not released and died of ovarian cancer at age 41. I mean I had so much money, so much power, Chagra said. When Chagras former drug-smuggling partner Henry Wallace turned and became a witness, the charges against Chagra were increased and he faced the prospect of life in prison without parole. They tortured her for no (reason). Jo Ann Harrelson and Elizabeth Chagra Arriving at Court - Getty Thursday, May 28: Oscar's "Case of the Century": The Life 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. Charles Campion, the attorney for Mrs. Harrelson, did not say whether she would appeal. Lee considered Joe his property and took what he wanted, including Joes first serious girlfriend. He was a cheat, he was a con man and he was a murderer. Sessions gave Chagra 30 years on the drug charges, and he was sent to Leavenworth. 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. The government indicted Harrelson, the Chagra brothers, Jo Ann Harrelson and Jimmy Chagras wife, Elizabeth, who delivered the $250,000 payoff for Charles Harrelson. Guillermo has been with the Express-News for 20 years, and has covered federal court and its investigative agencies for most of that time. 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. This synergistic environment allows all the nonprofits to operate more efficiently and better utilize their funding. Through these collaborations, we have been able to extend our reach to help more families in our local community. "The Judge Wood Murder Case." "I truly appreciate the way you assisted me. King, Wayne. Patricia Sharpe writes a regular restaurant column, Pats Pick, for Texas Monthly. The investigation cost more than $11 million, at the time the most extensive investigation in the bureaus history. 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. 7-year-old baseball umpire seeks Guinness World Record. Joe Chagra ended Investigators questioned several long-term convicts, offering reduced sentences for information about the judge's killing. ''O.K., honey,'' Mrs. Chagra said she replied. Everybody got hurt in this. Mr. Harrelson said Mr. Kay borrowed the car some days before the killing, but that he had it back and was in Dallas on the day of the killing. Dozens killed, injured as Jakarta fuel depot fire engulfs neighborhood. Anyone can read what you share. 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. 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. On May 29, 1979, Wood was shot dead in the parking lot outside his San Antonio townhouse. 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. 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. Joe accepted a ten-year plea bargain in the Wood conspiracy, with the understanding that prosecutors would help him recover his law license. Judge Wood was the first Federal judge to be assassinated in this century. The 5th U.S. Florida woman runs ultra-marathon distances for 23 consecutive days. The assassination came at the height of a Justice Department campaign to slow the flow of illicit drugs across the Mexican border. Woody Harrelson funded his fathers appeals, enlisting the aid of controversial In addition to his son and brother, Mr. Chagra is survived by his mother, Josephine, and two sisters, Samantha and Patsy. Occasionally the digitization process introduces transcription errors or other problems; we are continuing to work to improve these archived versions. -- 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. But Mr. Jahn, the Federal prosecutor, said in his final argument Saturday, ''Charles Harrelson had three talents. Joseph Chagra, 50, Lawyer Linked to Assassination, Dies, https://www.nytimes.com/1996/12/15/us/joseph-chagra-50-lawyer-linked-to-assassination-dies.html. 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. Ive published three articles in this magazine about Wood and the Chagras, but Ive never written all I knowuntil now. Harrelson's jury found him guilty of murder of a federal employee, and he was also convicted on the charges of conspiracy to commit murder and conspiracy to obstruct justice. WebThe Harrelson Center is a nonprofit campus that supports and partners with other nonprofit organizations in the Wilmington community to provide centralized services. Because he was a model prisoner Joe ended up spending only six and a half years behind bars. A lot of the early investigation went off on some tangents, and they rounded up some Bandidos, lawyer Campion said. U.S. District Judge John H. Wood was assassinated in San Antonio May 29, 1979, by Charles Harrelson. There was a lot of internal pressure.. An appeal was expected. 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. TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. At least 5 dead following year's first severe spring weather outbreak. The casinos loved him, of course, and their dealers loved him, too, because he was a big tipper. But Chagra and Harrelson werent immediate suspects, and it took thousands of man-hours before they were identified as such. 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. Jo Ann got a 25-year sentence. 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.'' This is not a happy story for anybody. Charles Harrelson under arrest in 1982 for the slaying of federal judge John Wood. Jamiel Chagra was tried separately, in Jacksonville, Florida and received a sentence of 15 years and was fined $120,000 on the charge of conspiracy to obstruct justice and conspiracy to possess marijuana. Jo Ann Harrelson was found guilty of conspiracy to obstruct justice. Great American Trials. The trial for Jimmy Chagra, meanwhile, was moved to Jacksonville, Florida, and his lawyer, former Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman, dealt the government a defeat. March 4 (UPI) -- Three children are dead and two others remain hospitalized Saturday after a domestic incident in a North Texas town, authorities said. ''I thought he should,'' Joseph Chagra said. In 1995, he appeared as himself in the movie, Casino.. Forrest Wilder writes about politics and the outdoors. Elizabeth Chagra was convicted of conspiracy to Time (October 25, 1982). The prosecution produced no murder weapon or any eyewitnesses. US based Meghan and Harry.. FameChain has their amazing trees. WebTo provide a humanitarian services campus of nonprofit organizations that offer hope, opportunity, and empowerment. If I'm not the expert in one area, I know already that somebody is within the Harrelson Center. ", 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. Throughout, Charles Voyde Harrelson, the man convicted of killing the judge May 29, 1979, with a single shot in the back from a highpowered rifle, appeared at ease, leaning back in his chair and offering the jury faint smiles. Jo Ann Harrelson Family Tree & History, Ancestry & Genealogy Chagra was let out on bail and he disappeared. WebJo Ann Harrelson's in laws: All relationship and family history information shown on FameChain has been compiled from data in the public domain. Later, Chagra admitted to the judges murder and to the attempted murder of Kerr in an effort to free his wife from prison. 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. 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. We mesh and balance each other., - Jerri Holliday, Executive Director, Philippians 3 Ministries, 20 North 4th St. STE 214 Wilmington, NC 28401, But the Partner benefit with the greatest impact to us and our families. He has published 21 books and screenplays, including many on Las Vegas history and historical figures. It is believed to be correct at the time of inputting and is presented here in good faith. The first giraffe in San Antonio was part of a traveling circus that stopped here in 1901. 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. A short time later, Joe was arrested and held without bail, as were Jo Ann As a result, people used him. Former U.S. serviceman sentenced to 45 years for planning attack on fellow soldiers. ." Elizabeth Chagra: 30 years for conspiracy to murder, two concurrent five year sentences for obstruction of justice and tax evasion. Charles Harrelson arrives at Federal Court 11-8-82 for his trial in the slaying of federal judge Wood. To provide a humanitarian services campus of nonprofit organizations that offer hope, opportunity, and empowerment. 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 Chagras said they were convinced that Judge Wood, who was scheduled to preside over Jimmy's case, had a bias against them. The trial for the Harrelsons and Elizabeth Chagra took place in the newly named John H. Wood Jr. courthouse over objections from defense lawyers. Russian defense minister visits front lines as Ukraine's hold on Bakhmut slips. March 3 (UPI) -- A Massachusetts library said a book was recently returned with a note apologizing for the tome being 56 years overdue. May 29, 1979: Wood was shot to death outside his San Antonio condo. 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. Allegations arose that Chagra hired Harrelson, the actor Woody Harrelsons father, to commit the murder. Whether they are seeking financial help, spiritual help, whether they are looking for a job, clothing, food or encouragement, a listening ear or someone to help build them up, people can come here because it is not only in the heart of Wilmington but IS the heart of Wilmington. The Center provides its nonprofit partners social and educational opportunities, marketing and promotions, volunteer recruitment and a place of collaboration for them to help those in need in our community. 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. Bikers and other street toughs were dragged in on hold-over charges. The center supports its partners with below-market rental rates that cover all utilities, parking and security. 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. Chagra went into the Witness Protection Program in Arizona, and remarried. and court testimony, Jamiel Chagra was ''the highest of high rollers,'' a man who flew in private jets, gambled at roped-off tables in Las Vegas and thought nothing of betting half a million dollars on a roll of the dice. The Harrelson Center | Home Image of Jimmy Chagra in handcuffs courtesy of the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Daniel's 5th outing as Bond gets bums back on seats in the cinema. Suspected burglar inside New Brunswick home was a panicked deer. In 2019, we had a staff of three and were serving maybe 150 individuals. Newsweek (June 22, 1981). Charles Harrelson Trial: 1982-83 | Encyclopedia.com It was the day after (Memorial) Day, the day Chagras trial was to start, Ray Jahn said. 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. Therefore, be sure to refer to those guidelines when editing your bibliography or works cited list. with Diane Harrelson{ "@context": "http://schema.org", "@type": "Person", "name": "Diane Harrelson", "gender": "Female" }. One of his many screenplays details the life of notorious drug smuggler Jimmy Chagra. Though he and his wife, Patty, divorced, they remained close. James had a deal to receive $250,000 from the government if Chagra was convicted. However, the date of retrieval is often important. 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. From online or printed sources and from publicly accessible databases. Minnesota officer removes jar from raccoon's head. 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.