AGENCY INFORMATION AGENCY: — FBI RECORD NUMBER: — 124-10179-10129 RECORD SERIES: SA AGENCY FILE NUMBER: CR 89-250-1-5366 ‘DOCUMENT INFORMATION ORIGINATOR: FBI FROM: SAC, KC TO: TITLE: DATE: 09/30/1980 PAGES: 7 SUBJECT: JFK, EVID, NOTE, ALLEGATIONS DOCUMENT TYPE: - PAPER, TEXTUAL DOCUMENT ORIGINAL . NEW CLASSIFICATION: — Unvlassified CLASSIFICATION: REVIEW DATE: 09/24/1997 UPDATE DATE: 02/12/2001 STATUS Redact . RESTRICTIONS: JFK Act 6 (4) COMMENTS: DATE LOWER LEFT CORNER Docld: 327174310 Page 1
er mega See ee eee re fr eo el ?Docla: 32174310 Page 2_ pay, ves . a . FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION 1. 10/2/80 Date of transcription 2 Jerry rarNames (PROTECT IDENTITY) adyised that in: a recent conversation with fellow inmate Travis® Irwin on Wednesday, September 24, 1980, as well as Saturday, September 27, 1980,y, Irwin advised James that he (Irwin) had spoken to Timmy = on September 23 and 24, 80. At that time . hagra to ravis Irwin that CharlieMarrelson was currently in custody at Houston, Texas, and Harrelson had previously written a note allegedly admitting that he (Harrelson)ywas responsible for the assassination of€President¥John F¢ Kennedy, as well as the murder of Judge Wood. In addition, the note was alleged to have stated that while Harrelson peygonally and solely assassinated Kennedy, he assisted Larry eulbreath in the murder of Judge Wood and Culbreath actually fired the weapon killing the Judge but Harrelson had planned the "hit" and received payment for this contract. Jimmy agra had related these facts to Irwin shortly after Todchagra had visited Jimmy at Leavenworth on September 23, 1980. Joe Chagra had also stated that the "note" was currently in the possession of law enforcement officers and that he (Joe) had a "contact" with one of these officers and was thus able to find out the contents of the alleged note. The note was supposedly recovered from Harrelson's personal effects subsequent to his arrest in early September, 1980. { Jimmy Chagra also advised Irwin that the final payment on the $200,000 assassination fee had just been made to Harrelson in the last two or three months at El Paso, Texas. This money had been paid Harrelson but the exact amount of the balance payment was unknown by Irwin or James. In conversation with Irwin, James has. been able to determine the facts concerning Jimmy Chagra and his relationship with Charlie Harrelson. According to Irwin, Jimmy Chagra first met Charlie Harrelson when both were gambling, perhaps poker, at Las Vegas, Nevada, just before Judge Wood was killed in May, 1979. As a result of this meeting in May, 1979, a "contract" was given to Charlie Harrelson by Jimmy Chagra against the life of Judge Wood. James did not exactly know how Irwin came to know these facts but believes Jimmy Chagra had told Irwin. l . Kansas City - Leavenworth , Kansas cue S9=3TUSSUE BLT OU © 9/30/80 at =3I3= = SA Michael P. Shanaharfva: : SOF re sictatea__10/2/80 | Sete | JUN 18 1981 This document contains neither recommendations nor conclusions oa ting BH Nt dp th it and its contents are not to be distributed outside yo y investigation on by
a SE, “eo. 7 * f KC 89~319-SUB B 2. In conversation between Travis Irwin and Jerry Ray James, both have discussed the facts which Jimmy Chagra has told them concerning the murder of Judge Wood. It is the conclusion of both Irwin and James that Jimmy Chagra is truthful when he stated that he was responsible for the death of Judge Wood; however, Travis Irwin doubts the truthfulness of Harrelson's statements that Larry Culbreath was the "trigger man" at the murder of Judge Wood. Irwin has stated to James that he knows "everything Larry Culbreath has done in his life," and Irwin stated that Culbreath has denied any participation in the Wood murder and Irwin is confident that if in fact he (Culbreath) were involved, Irwin would have known of it by now. James stated that he trusts Irwin's statements regarding Culbreath and Irwin thinks of James as a "god" and "looks up to James", and would not withhold anything from him. James advised Irwin and Culbreath had grown up together in Texas and have been friends in excess of twenty years. . Reece ace aE EY. TABOR ” | Irwin had also determined from either Jimmy Chagra | or Culbreath himself that Culbreath was arrested either the day after or two days after the Wood murder while Culbreath was driving Harrelson's car from San Antonio to Pleasanton, Texas. James did not know the nature of the arrest and only that it occurred between San Antonio and Pleasanton, Texas. Irwin has also related to James that just prior to James! arrival at Leavenworth in June, 1980, Jimmy Chagra had told “| him (Irwin) that Harrelson was "good, real good at doing his job." Since this statement was related to James in the context of comments about the murder of Judge Wood, it was mutually understood by James and Irwin that Jimmy Chagra's statement had reference to Harrelson's ability to "fill contracts", e.g. murder for hire. With regard to Jimmy Chagra's solicitation of Jerry Ray James to procure six or eight individuals to smuggle marijuana into the United States, as well as the murder of a former witness against Chagra, James is firmly convinced that if he refused to locate the individuals for. either "job" for Jimmy Chagra, Jimmy would reach out and find someone else to do the work.
Hide cy Dlg w+ ud 9° Ae Tieatites aoe Ad; + Oee SE aR wr ae * ab HER ye = EENE UT SRL ORR EMER DEM MBE, oe Sr ter ts KC 89-319-SUB B 3 . James advised that while "B" anq "p" cellblocks are separate from each other, inmates are allowed to see each other in the common area of the main building from 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. each day. Located in this common area are such facilities as the barbership, pool hall, and card rooms. Travis Irwin would see and talk to Jimmy Chagra generally in the pool hall area since Irwin has a cell in "D" cellblock. James could not offer any explanation as to why Joe Chagra would be attempting to secure a bond fo Harrelson since Chagras had routinely utilized Vi fe) as their bondsman; however, Apodaca is currently in "serious trouble" with IRS and is under indictment. James stated that Jimmy Chagra had given Apodaca a sizeable amount of jewelry to secure his bond in his last drug case. Jimmy Chagra later replaced the jewelry with $500,000 cash and eventually "skipped" bond and was a federal fugitive. James also stated that the Warden at Leavenworth Saw a friend of James in the hallway and told him that Jimmy Chagra would be transferred to "D" cellblock. ' Docld: 32174310 “Page: 4 . ae De ee an reat nt A
eet oe FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION 1. 10/2/80: Date of transcription_- ‘ Jerry Ray James (PROTECT IDENTITY) advised that in a recent conversation with fellow inmate Travis Irwin on , Wednesday, September 24, 1980, as well as Saturday ,:September 27, - 1980, Irwin advised James that he (Irwin) had spoken to - Jimmy Chagra on September 23 and 24, 1980. - At that time Chagra told Travis Irwin that Charlie Harrelson was currently in custody at Houston, Texas, and Harrelson had. previously written a note allegedly ‘admitting that he (Harrelson) was | responsible for the assassination of President John F. Kennedy , as well as the murder of Judge Wood. In addition, the note a was alleged to have stated that while Harrelson personally and solely assassinated Kennedy, he assisted Larry Culbreath in the murder of Judge Wood and Culbreath: actually fired the weapon killing the Judge but Harrelson had planned the "hit" and received payment for this contract. - i Jimmy Chagra had related these facts to Irwin shortly after Joe Chagra had visited Jimmy at Leavenworth: - on. September 23, 1980. Joe Chagra had also stated that the "note" was currently in the possession of law enforcement | officers and that he (Joe) had a-"contact" with ane of these officers and was thus able to find out the contents of the alleged note. The note was supposedly recovered from Harrelson's personal effects. subsequent to his. arrest in early September, 1980. Jimmy Chagra also advised Irwin that the final payment ‘on the $200,000 assassination fee had just been made to Harrelson in the last two or three months at El Paso, Texas. This money had been paid Harrelson but the exact amount of the balance payment was unknown by Irwin or James. — In conversation with Irwin, James has been able to determine the facts concerning Jimmy Chagra and his relationship with Charlie Harrelson. According to Irwin, Jimmy Chagra first met Charlie Harrelson when both were gambling, perhaps’ poker, at Las Vegas, Nevada, just before Judge Wood was: killed in May, 1979. As a result of this meeting in May, 1979, a "contract" was given to Charlie Harrelson by Jimmy Chagra - against the life of Judge Wood. James did not exactly know how Irwin came to know these facts but believes Jimmy Chagra had told Irwin. i Kansas City. 9/30/80 a__ Leavenworth , Kansas ’ rine #89=319-=SUB By 7 t : Investigation on - Ts = ae ; : t : . eae ‘ “ é eo, | |__SA Michael P. Shanahan 10/2/80 99.8- AID Sule 5340 This document contains néither recommendations nor conclusions of the FBI. It is the property ofthe FBI and.-is-loaned to your agency; cat it and its contents are not to be distributed outside your agency. - . . Pet : ‘ Des * Docld:32174310 Page 5
cee ae aie Ie OPS Da “Tovar 80-” “Date of transcription, — aor a “Jerpy ‘Ray James - (PROTECT: TDENTITY) advised: ‘that’ ‘in: SE a a recent eonversation with fellow*inmate. Travis ..Irwin-on' Stay, os ‘Wednesday, .September’ 24, “1980, as. well as Saturday ‘Séptember: 27, tt '1980., Irwin. advised. James. that he? (Irwin) had. spoken: to: _ mo a ar Jimmy - Chagra’ on: September™ 23. and. 24,°1980. (At that time a: '"Chagra. ‘told Travis® Irwin: that Charlie. Harrelson .was. currently: oo.  In- éustody_ at; “Houston ;* Texas ,* and. Harrelsoii ‘had’ ‘previously: an “oo written avnoté: allegedly ,admitting, ‘that.-he- (Harnelson). wwas 0) ae - ‘Pesponsible. for* ‘the: assassination of. President ‘John: Fe Kennedy, © as well as the. murder. of Judge’ Wood. .In, addition, ' the note « ete “Was. alleged to “have stated that. while Harrelson, -personally .- - and. solely ‘assassinated Kennedy, : she - assisted: Larry. Culbreath, *’ in the murder of Judge “Wood. and- Culbreatth” ‘actually’. fired the s. ot _ | weapon: Killing. -the: Judge: but’ Harnelson’ had: pharined: ‘the hath nee oe “and received’ payment, ‘for.: this: contract; a Se REE ey a “Jimmy Chagra: fad? velated these’: “Packs? ‘£6. Erwin aon “shortly” after: “Joe -. Chagra had. visited Jimny at Leavenworth. . “On. September~* “2.3.5. 1980.°- “Joe. Chagra had. also? stated ‘that the ‘ , ~ "note": Was. ‘current ly: in: -the- ‘possession ‘of*: aw. enforcement .  Officers.and. that: he’: (Joe). hada "contact", with one of | “these - officers. and was: thus ‘able. ‘to- find. out the.’ ‘contents of :the foe a mo alleged note. .Thé: note. Was ‘supposedly. recovened from Harrelson! Ss. . personal. effects (subsequent tO: his” anrest | ‘In. tearly ‘September,’ ‘1980. - a -Simmy Chagra also. advised: ‘Trewin, that. the final: ‘payment: -on’ the. “$200; 00.0 « assassination fee had just been: made- to Harrelson: ., in “the! ‘last two.” ‘or. ‘three: months. at. EL: Paso.,. Texas. “This: money chad, been paid Harrelson ‘but . the: exact aiount.. Of ‘the balance Qf hs ae 7) Payment - was - unknown: by. Trewin or. games. a ve Doe tte! os “In? ‘conversation with | retin. James. ag’ been: ablé. ‘to ne determine the: facts _concerning Jimmy. ‘Chagra. and-his.. relationship with Charlie.. Harrelson. ‘ According to -Irwin ;' Jimmy.- Chagra first. met. Charlie Harrélson when -both were ‘gambling, perhaps: poker, | at’ -Las Vegas 5. ‘Nevada ,...j.ust., before” Judge . Wood was ‘i dled * ~in’ May, 1979. ‘As’ a result of this” meeting.-in- May ,. 1979, . .. "contract". -was'given to Charlie. Harrelson” by Jimmy . Chagra | against’ the ‘life of Judge “Wood. ~James_ did. not exactly ‘know how Irwin came to know. these, ‘facts but believes, Fimmy. Chagra. - had told. ‘Irwin. Oe dein 9430780. °°. ft oe Leavenworth jKansas i” re 319 SUB Bort “2. Investigation on - ee - at_ - eo se — = se Lon by 24 Michael Ps oul aa _ a . peer Date. dictated 10/27 80_ _ eet atummcasomn Ee 350 SL SAL : o This document contains neither recommendations nor conclusions’ ‘of the FBI- Iti is. the property. of the FBl.and.is foaned to your agency; ; , it and its contents are not’ to be distributed outside your agency: bocthiSbivaaie bags Fo
“Ke: age 319- SUB’ B.. . 2+. . Oar ot ey In. “eénverdation: between ‘Travis: Irwin and. Jerny” eb ty : Ray: Jameés',., both.: have: discussed. the . facts: -which:.Jimmy: ce Chagra™ ‘has told: “them ‘concerning. ‘the. murder: of Judge Wood. ‘It is. the, conclusion. of both: Irwin, ‘and: James that. Jimmy... ; Chagra: is’ ‘truthful’. when, he stated: that He “was: responsible. for the death of: Judge. Wood; however, Travis: “Tywin. doubts « oe OU the’ truthfulness. of: Harrelson" s statements, that, Larry = ae 2? Culbreath, was’ the. “thigger | man". ‘at’ the: murder- of: Judge . Wood. roar Sa. ‘Irwin’ has. stated to James -that he: knows "everything ‘Larny: 7 “2 :€uxbreath: thasdone in. his: life," and Irwin ‘stated “that : ‘vs .Culbreath Has denied « any | participation . in. the » Wood: murder’ “ana Tnwirr is’ confident -that Fein’ fact: “he (Culbreath). “were. a “that: he ° trusts Irwin's: ‘statements regarding: Culbreath- ‘and. fav ch Trewin: -thinks.“of Jamesas.-a;-""god™: ‘and’ _" kooks UP. to. James! ‘and: would not ‘withhold™ anything, from hin Bs James. “advised: ‘aecin’ op ‘and Culbreath. had. grown. up: together in- Texas and nave: ‘been® _ friends’ ‘in excess of: Awenty, yearss.. aaa 5 nocd . day after on. _two.. days. after the Wood. ‘munde?r - while. Culbreath * “was” ‘driving: Harrelson! s: car .from: San. “Antonio: 0° Pleasanton , “= Texas James: did: not: know” the. nature: Of. “the - ‘arrest. and: only | that. it. oceurred: between.. San? Aritonio and ‘Pleasanton’, . Texas. +” - Irwin, has “also ‘péelated, to: James. that | just priorto James" ° . arrival at. ‘Leavenworth in June, . 1986., _ Jimny ‘Chagra. Rad told -*him- (Irwin) that- Harrelson was.. good 5 “real. good’ at doing - _his job." ° Since “this: statement was rélated to James in the . --° eontext-of~ comments | ‘about: the-murder. of Jtidge Wood; it’ was. mutually: understo6d. ‘by. James and* Irwin: chat! dimmy. ‘Chagra! s. .” ‘statement “had referencé’ to" Haryelson' vability, to “fill ; . contracts” 7 es “Be murder . ‘for. hire. a ce ; “pepard “£0. ‘timmy: ‘Chagra! ‘Ss. ‘goticitation.. Of: ‘Jérny: Rag James. sto. procure. 'six* or eight. individuals: to: smuggle marijuana’ * ‘into * “the United. States ,- as, wekl* as the” . Murder of a: ‘former’ ‘witness: ‘against... ‘Chagra .James vis ‘firmly. ') eonyvinced | tha't Lf. ‘he. Yyefused to “locate. th ‘individuals. 1, fore either. "Fob" for Jimmy Chagra;. Jimmy would. speach out “and. find: ‘Someone., else: to. do. the swor' « “Docld:32174318 * Page F<. involved, : Irwin- would have kriown of ‘it? by now.: James. stated: fe wae ene Sake Ha “Trwit ‘had ‘also- ‘determined: “from. ebtned Ginny: eee oo For Cul breath: himself: that “Culbreath -was: arrested either theo we.
James. “advised | ‘that. while’"B" and npw: ‘cellblocks- are ‘Séparate -from: each other ,- inmates’ are’ vallowed- to™ see each’ othér’,in=the . common » area ‘of thé’ main building from-.. eo Bs "30" “p.m. ‘to. 9:00. Dem.” ‘ach. ‘day's : ~ * are'avare* such. faci oad : ilities: “and card: rooms .. “Travis Irwin’ would sée-and* talk. ‘to Finny. Chagra: generally ‘in’ the: pool: hall. area since “Tnwin’ has a. “2% ‘cell in, “DY cellblock:" te vas James: could. not: offer any- explanation. as. “6 why.” . Joe | Chazra would be" ‘attempting’ to ‘secure a ‘bond for. , ..Harrelson. since Chagras » *had- routinely ‘utilized: Vic: ‘Apodaca | : aS their. bondsman; ‘however, “Apodaca ‘is: currently. ain. “serious: ot trouble". with IRS and is: “under: indictment...” James” ‘stated 00 a -that. Jimny Chagra: had. given -Apodaca a: sizeable: ‘amount: of oof we BRS ‘to secure his bond in ‘his last drug case.:° Jimny —— Chagra ater replaced. ‘the ‘jewelry with. $500,000 cash: and. eventually -"Skipped” ‘bond: and was a federal. fugheive. 4% : ” Jahiés: also” ‘stated “that. the Warden. at ‘Leavenworth:, “saw a ‘friend of- James-in’ the: hallway and: told. him that Sammy, Chagra 1 would be. -thatisferred to? Dn cellblock. - DecTd: 32174310 , Page 8° ~~ Located. inthis. common, Se MRD Tat .as ‘the. -barbership,- pool. hall, “ate ara