From online or printed Midland was in the jurisdiction of U.S. District Judge John Wood, known as Maximum John for his tough prison sentences in drug cases. Wood died in 1979 when he was assassinated by Charles Harrelson. Within the Cite this article tool, pick a style to see how all available information looks when formatted according to that style. 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. Joes testimony put Harrelson in prison for life; ironically, in his separate trial, Jimmy was acquitted, thanks largely to Joes unwillingness to testify against him. They pulled out all the stops. Released in 1978, he married for a third time the next year, this time to Jo Ann Starr. '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 admitted she delivered the money but said she did not know what it was for. All relationship and family history information shown on FameChain has been compiled from data in the public domain. 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. Governor of Philippine province, 5 others killed in gun attack. He won the first ever Nevada Screenwriters Award in 1988 and the Lowell Thomas Award for outstanding travel writing in 1991. 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. 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 was summoned before a federal grand jury in the Western District of Texas investigating her husband's complicity in the murder. The investigation cost more than $11 million, at the time the most extensive investigation in the bureaus history. 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. He was sentenced to two life sentences. Investigators suspected that the murder was somehow connected to the growing drug trade in Texas. WebJo Ann Harrelson and Elizabeth Chagra Arriving at Court. There was a lot of internal pressure.. The map led the feds to learn that the murder weapon had been purchased by Harrelsons wife, Jo Ann. 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 Elizabeth Chagra died in prison of ovarian cancer in September 1997 at age 43. Later, Chagra admitted to the judges murder and to the attempted murder of Kerr in an effort to free his wife from prison. Elizabeth Chagra: 30 years for conspiracy to murder, two concurrent five year sentences for obstruction of justice and tax evasion. The only other person in the world who knew that Harrelson did the hit on Judge Wood was Jimmy, who ordered it. 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. ", 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. They werent taking no for an answer, defense lawyer Brown said. 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. Jos R. Ralat is Texas Monthlys taco editor, writing about tacos and Mexican food. Chagra went into the Witness Protection Program in Arizona, and remarried. When the government offered to try Jimmy separately in its desperation to nail Harrelson, Joe found himself in a predicament. Great American Trials. Charles Campion, the attorney for Mrs. Harrelson, did not say whether she would appeal. Though he and his wife, Patty, divorced, they remained close. 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. All but Jimmy live in El Paso. Harrelson thought that was the day he had to kill the judge.. . February 2023 Reader Quiz: What Did You Learn? Chagra and his wife, Liz, and young daughter relocated to Las Vegas in 1978 and moved into a house across the street from attorney Oscar Goodman. And You Thought Feral Hogs Were Bad. ", - Kim Ceasar, Executive Director, Soaring As Eagles, "The Harrelson Center changes the lives of people in amazing ways. Defendants: Charles Manson, Susan Atkins, Patricia Krenwinkel, Leslie Van Houten 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. He was very good at what he did, Ray Jahn said. The pressure (to solve the murder) was on us, Ray Jahn said. 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. They also argued, unsuccessfully, that incriminating recorded conversations should not have been allowed because they were covered by attorney-client privilege or by spousal privilege. Former U.S. serviceman sentenced to 45 years for planning attack on fellow soldiers. When he went to Las Vegas, he went to offer his talents as a murderer.''. If I'm not the expert in one area, I know already that somebody is within the Harrelson Center. Judge Sessions gave Chagra only 10 additional years on his sentence, making him eligible for parole in 2007. By Wayne King, Special To the New York Times. 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. Another juror collapsed in her chair after the verdict was read and had to be helped from the courtroom. On May 29, 1979, Wood was shot dead in the parking lot outside his San Antonio townhouse. Depen, Chicago Mobsters Convicted of Decades-Old Murders Woody Harrelson funded his fathers appeals, enlisting the aid of controversial Space-X continues to reach for the stars. Harrelson is drowning in a sea of evidence and she realizes it,' assistant U.S. Attorney Ray Jahn told jurors before the verdict Monday. The bug picked up Chagra talking with his wife and brother Joe about the judges murder. Donald asks the courts to let him tweet. Instead, that day he was shot as he was leaving for court. Chagra also was a prime suspect in the attempted murder of Assistant U.S. Attorney James Kerr of San Antonio. 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. It was a big deal; there was a lot of interest in the case, said Millsap, who later served as Bexar County district attorney. ." But Im sure the Wood family feels like they were robbed, too. U.S. District Judge John H. Wood was assassinated in San Antonio May 29, 1979, by Charles Harrelson. Dozens killed, injured as Jakarta fuel depot fire engulfs neighborhood. H-E-Bs True Texas BBQ Restaurant Is Slipping, West Texans Are Learning What It Means to Live in Bear Country. It also resulted in a group of lawyers and businessmen bankrolling a $100,000 reward, which became instrumental in solving the case. But his wife was not released and died of ovarian cancer at age 41. Bring on the Shiplap. It's an amazing way to provide a warm handoff so that people have all of their needs served. They did a full-court press. You know Harrelson knocked off the judge, Jimmy told him. 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. Three years later, after moving to the Harrelson Center, we have a staff of 18 and are serving some 1500 people. 10/19/1981 - Charles V. Harrelson, charged in the murder of U.S. District Judge John H. Wood, in court. The Center recognizes the critical needs of others and encourages, uplifts and assists them in rebuilding their lives through the services provided in the center. Fire Ants Have Unleashed Chaos in Texas for Decades. The Chagras said they were convinced that Judge Wood, who was scheduled to preside over Jimmy's case, had a bias against them. 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. As of mid-2001, the appeal remained postponed. 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. 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. In addition to his son and brother, Mr. Chagra is survived by his mother, Josephine, and two sisters, Samantha and Patsy. 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. Suspected burglar inside New Brunswick home was a panicked deer. Support is I work for a non-profit and it is encouraging to know when I refer clients to you that they will feel cared for and not judged. Charles, Jo Ann Harrelson and Elizabeth Chagra faced only the lesser charges. Kathryn Wood, the widow of the slain judge, provided a five-page handwritten letter from Elizabeth Chagra, apologizing for her involvement in the murder. . 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. 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.". 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. Therefore, that information is unavailable for most Encyclopedia.com content. 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. 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. Harrelson, 69, died of a heart attack in March 2007 in a federal maximum-security prison in Colorado. 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. circular of wanted people as a ''carpet salesman, professional gambler and narcotics trafficker.''. Wood was shot in the back with a high-powered rifle while leaving his north San Antonio townhouse for work. After Joe was killed, the bad publicity inevitably returned, so Patty took their daughter, Samantha, a seventeen-year-old high school honor student, to all the television stations in El Pasojust so they could see her face and know what they had put her through. After that, Patty told me, the flavor of the stories softened. Should you have information that conflicts with anything shown please make us aware by email. Explore how the celebrity world connects. 1985) Annotate this Case US Court of Appeals for the with Diane Harrelson{ "@context": "http://schema.org", "@type": "Person", "name": "Diane Harrelson", "gender": "Female" }. Chagra was a prolific marijuana smuggler and spent his ill-gotten fortune on casinos in Las Vegas, where he moved in 1978. But Chagra and Harrelson werent immediate suspects, and it took thousands of man-hours before they were identified as such. Harrelson claimed to have killed 50 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. The assassination came at the height of a Justice Department campaign to slow the flow of illicit drugs across the Mexican border. One of his many screenplays details the life of notorious drug smuggler Jimmy Chagra. The desire to give and serve others stems from a place of earnest compassion. 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. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. You cant imagine the shock when Jimmy Chagra was acquitted.. 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.. Florida woman runs ultra-marathon distances for 23 consecutive days. Bobby Harrelson said it best in Crazy Like A Fox, an article in Wilmington Magazine. While awaiting trial, Chagra came into contact with career criminal Charles Harrelson, father of actor Woody Harrelson, in Las Vegas. The UK's supply crisis puts extra pressure on Prime Minister Boris. Jo Ann Harrelson was convicted of conspiracy to obstruct justice and later convicted of five counts of perjury. Joe was stunned. Anyone can read what you share. 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). Occasionally the digitization process introduces transcription errors or other problems; we are continuing to work to improve these archived versions. 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. ', 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.'. The $450,000 they took from the office safe was money Jimmy owed to mob boss Joe Bonanno, Sr., for a busted drug deal. The trial for the Harrelsons and Elizabeth Chagra took place in the newly named John H. Wood Jr. courthouse over objections from defense lawyers. He called himself ''a card mechanic'' so talented with a deck that he could deal any hands requested around a table. In effect, he was being tried for murder, when he claimed that his only involvement was in a con-game to get the murder pay-off money for a killing performed by someone else. 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. 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. Chagras operation had links to the Patriarca crime family in New England. It was such an iconoclastic case, because it was believed a federal judge could not be touched.. Charles Manson Trial: 1970-71 Wood was called 'Maximum John' for his tough sentencing policies. Because he was a model prisoner Joe ended up spending only six and a half years behind bars. Chagra asked Harrelson if Wood could be bribed. The government also taped other conversations, including some between Charles Harrelson and his attorney, and others between Joseph and Jamiel Chagra. ", & Dr. ." Liz got a 30-year sentence. 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. She was previously convicted of using a false name to buy a rifle, believed to be the murder weapon, and sentenced to three years. 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. 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. 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. Great American Trials. ''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. Once he paid off a cocktail waitress $50,000 mortgage when he heard she was raising three kids on her own. 'The hearing will continue when I hear further from the government or the witness (Mrs. Elizabeth Chagra: conspiracy to murder and conspiracy to obstruct justice; separate indictment on income tax evasion. Patricia Sharpe writes a regular restaurant column, Pats Pick, for Texas Monthly. People walk by the Judge John H. Wood Jr. Federal Courthouse in 2017. However, she testified that her husband had stalked into the house after a hearing with the judge and vowed, ''I'm going to kill him.''. The sensational case resulted in a book, Dirty Dealings, by the late journalist Gary Cartwright, television crime dramas and a mention at Las Vegas Mob Museum. Now, perhaps due to our improved stature, our incoming donations are 80% new! WebTo provide a humanitarian services campus of nonprofit organizations that offer hope, opportunity, and empowerment. The collaborations and friendships are blessings to me and to our organization. The 5th U.S. Jo Ann Harrelson was convicted of conspiracy to obstruct justice and later convicted of five counts of perjury. A place where needs are met, dreams are fostered and hope abounds. CHAGRA: ASSASSINATION OF JUDGE JOHN WOOD AND LINKS TO CHARLES HARRELSON, FATHER OF WOODY. Yes, Chagra Russell continued. Allegations arose that Chagra hired Harrelson, the actor Woody Harrelsons father, to commit the murder. SHREVEPORT, La. separate, there is cohesiveness. But Mr. Jahn, the Federal prosecutor, said in his final argument Saturday, ''Charles Harrelson had three talents. 2019Encyclopedia.com | All rights reserved. As each juror affirmed the vote of guilty on counts of conspiracy to murder, murder and conspiracy to obstruct justice, several had tears in their eyes and one woman shook visibly and broke into sobs. 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. They shook down everybody in South Texas.. If you fill out the first name, last name, or agree to terms fields, you will NOT be added to the newsletter list. On Express-News.com: Judge Sarah Garrahan-Moulder, who helped prosecute hit man Charles Harrelson in San Antonio, dies at 84. In death as in life, El Paso crime family scion Joe Chagra is getting a bad rap. To provide a humanitarian services campus of nonprofit organizations that offer hope, opportunity, and empowerment. He gave us details that only he knew, Ray Jahn said. 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. "It's a safe wonderful environment for all those charities to be located in. It was a David vs. Goliath battle. Not wanting to put his family through a trial, Joe pleaded guilty to something he didnt do, Chagra Russell said. He has published 21 books and screenplays, including many on Las Vegas history and historical figures. 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. Tips poured in. This synergistic environment allows all the nonprofits to operate more efficiently and better utilize their funding. 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. 'Mrs. Minnesota officer removes jar from raccoon's head. James had a deal to receive $250,000 from the government if Chagra was convicted. An appeal was expected. Without Joe Chagras testimony, Jimmy Chagra was acquitted of murder and conspiracy to murder but convicted of lesser obstruction of justice and drug charges. She recovered quickly and later said she was fine. Can College Sports Get More Absurd Than SMU Joining the Pac-12? 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. 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. Explore how the celebrity world connects. What finally did Joe in was his inability to stand up to Jimmy. 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.