He was raised is a single parent household by a hardworking mother. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Dogg and others were able to sway Donald Trump to giving Harris a pardon due to Harris reinventing himself as an activist while jailed. Harris' initial investment was reported at $1.5 million. The civil rights movement was well underway, with the black power movement soon to follow. Over his decades in prison, though, Harris gained a different kind of notability; he formed the nonprofit Richmond Project, aimed at diverting youth in West Contra Costa away from crime. Giving back to the communities where my help is so desperately needed.'. E-mail me when people leave their comments , Michael Harris: A Convicted Drug Kingpin Who Gave Denzel His Start on Broadway, How The Hells Angels Actually Works | How Crime Works | Insider, Bonannos go to war in New York: Shooting in Long Island tied to Mikey Nose and Joe C. beef, Watermelons, submarines & sex toys: The craziest ways cartels traffic drugs, How China Is Fuelling America's Drug Epidemic. *Terms apply. 'I told him, ''I know you was a drug lord, I know you was a kingpin. Please check your browser settings or contact your system administrator. 5 Angelos addressed Harris pardon to AllHipHop and labeled it as a corrected injustice, saying: This is definitely an injustice they corrected today. Look where I ended up.'. In 1988, Harris was convicted on kidnapping and attempted murder charges. Harris also co-founded the Houston-based Rap-a-Lot Records, and funded the Broadway playCheckmates,starring Denzel Washington. In its response, the U.S. Attorneys office argues on technical legal terms that Harris should be ineligible for a judge-ordered compassionate release because he still has a pending administrative appeal for release. During the last three decades in prison he has participated in a number of self help and rehabilitation programs, some of which he co-founded and co-facilitated. It was widely and inaccurately reported at the time that Harris had been granted his freedom. 41.6K followers. He was raised is a single parent household by a hardworking mother. Harris attorney, Bruce Zucker, told DailyMail.com that Harris release was long overdue and his 20-year sentence was unduly harsh. In an exclusive interview and special edition of "LA Stories," Harris opens up to host Giselle Fernandez about his time in prison. They initially refused to hang up, and Knight eventually caught assault charges for his punishment of both. They needed money, yet Knight wasnt interested in going to the expected corporate outlets for the resources. It was also rumored that Harry-O was financing the lifestyle of a few celebs in the hopes of becoming their manager. Michael "Harry-O" Harris. 'It's about returning to society with my newfound vision, talents, and insights [and] giving back to the communities where my help is so desperately needed.'. 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After more than three decades in prison, when he leaves, he will be a senior citizen, but also he will leave as a morally mature man.. Pardoned December 23, 2020, Veteran GOP dirty trickster and on-off adviser to Trump. However, over the years I have repeatedly proven myself to be part of the solution. For Harris, this is a chance to right the wrongs he committed in the past and a chance at redemption. Meanwhile, Denzel Washington is likely signing on for a role in another blockbuster and making space on his shelf for another award. This milestone might have been more celebrated had it not been for his previous occupation. He is most known as the person who gave Suge Knight the seed money to start Death Row records. He told me, ''No, rest assured I want to be involved with saving lives.''' It caused me problems with the DEA and the IRS back in the day because they attacked me based on statements being made that way. 'The show focuses on those in need of organ transplants, stem cell therapy treatments, child and foster care services, disease prevention, drug and rehab help, homelessness, those who are in need of employment or who are struggling with their finances,' Nutall said. Soon, pretty much every black gang in L.A. claimed affiliation with either the Bloods or the Crips. Death Row Records is famous music from the dozens of rap artists associated with the label. Harris was serving a prison sentence over drug trafficking and attempted murder charges at the Federal Correctional Institution Lompoc in California. It also happens to be based in truth. Former Richmond police Chief Chris Magnus even wrote a letter advocating for Harris to be released from prison, in which Magnus described Harris as a rare and valuable person whose influence was badly needed in the Richmond community. He also went on to take classes in acting at college. Kodak Black tweeted that he would donate $1million to charity if Trump pardoned him, but has since deleted the post. TUNE IN to learn more about how Harry-O helped many talented & well-known people outside & from BEHIND bars (big names such as actor, Denzel Washington, Suge. Snoop Dogg, who rapped under Harris infamous record label in the 1990s alongside Dr Dre and Tupac Shakur, enlisted Ivanka Trump, Jared Kushner and justice reform campaigners to convince Trump. The president knows how much this case means to me, she said. While serving prison terms totaling more than 40 years, he. At this point, Harris decided it was time to leave the drug business behind and pursue more legitimate goals. Ryan Parry, West Coast Editor For Dailymail.com During Donald Trump's last days as POTUS, he pardoned and commuted over 140 people's prison sentences and . ', He added: '2nd Chance helps those who have lost hope entirely and believe wholeheartedly that they will never find the help they so desperately desire.'. Harris successful pardon campaign began in Dec. 2020 when Snoop asked for help from former music producer and federal prisoner Weldon Angelos. The Daily Mail notes Harris had a musical upbringing and was classically trained by a next-door neighbor. IRS delays tax deadline for Bay Area, but California hasn't followed: What should you do? In the final moments of Trumps presidency, it was one of the labels flagship talents, Snoop Dogg, who quietly pushed the idea that Harris could be released after three decades locked down. AHH yes Ron Chepesiuk, wonderful human being, however his investigative methods leave a lot of the people e gets his info from angry. That caused me a lot of problems when a man made that statement. Related: Did Lisa Left Eye Lopes Date Death Row Records Owner Suge Knight? Look what it did to my family. In fact, he is probably better known to the public as the man who put up $1.5 million in seed money for a fledgling gangster rap label called Death Row Records. Denzel Washington, of course, is now one of the most popular and respected actors in cinema history. But aged 20 he started selling crack cocaine, making close connections with both the infamous Bloods and Rolling 60s Crips gangs. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. Now 58, Harris is far removed from the street impresario he once prided himself on being. You need to be a member of Gangsters Inc. - www.gangstersinc.org to add comments! He was there to see Michael Harris, better known on the streets as "Harry O." Harris was a Bounty Hunter Blood who had amassed a fortune in the 1980s' most lucrative and dangerous industry: cocaine. Attorneys with the Central District of California wrote in a response motion. From what I understand it came out his mouth, said J. Id like to congratulate the homey and anybody that come [sic] out of that hog pen.. But instead of going home a free man, Harris was transferred to a federal prison to begin serving a 253-month sentence for drug crimes. Oscar-winning actor Denzel Washington performed in the theater at the beginning of his career. Michael "Harry-O" Harris and others in Los Angeles Federal Court. . Doing so, Harris has spent his time campaigning for prison reform. For a few years in the 90s, Death Row was the symbol of Black power and dominance. 2023, Charter Communications, all rights reserved. The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. But instead of being released, Harris was transferred to federal prison to begin serving a 235-month sentence for his drug crimes. He currently writes for the website Planet Ill (www.planetill.com), as well as his own blog Scotts Introspection Section (www.scottsmindfield.com). One of the most interesting of the 143 people who Trump granted freedom is Michael Harry O Harris, whose story is tied to a business institution revered for both its unparalleled success and unmatched infamy. 2023 ESPN Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved. Angelos was also pardoned by Trump in December. Death Row co-founder Harry O had his sentence commuted on Donald Trumps last day as president. About the Authors: Ron Chepesiuk (www.ronchepesiuk.com) is award winning freelance investigative journalist, documentary producer and Executive Producer and co-host of the Crime Beat radio show www.artistfirst.com/crimebeat.htm/. The Death Row founder's lawyers had tried to get him out early on compassionate grounds last year, arguing that he suffered from an autoimmune disease and that an outbreak of coronavirus at his Lompoc prison put him at severe risk but the request was denied. He did a lot of good on the streets. His sentence was due to last until 2028. However, over the years I have repeatedly proven myself to be part of the solution. Nutall said with Harris' bankrolling and celebrity connections, he hopes to help many more people when the hip-hop investor is released. Only Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg are seen as Death Rows survivors. By Josh Boswell In Lompoc, California For Dailymail.Com, Published: 16:47 EST, 19 January 2021 | Updated: 02:27 EST, 20 January 2021. The 57-year-old is currently being held at a Federal Correctional Facility in Lompoc, California, where he is visited by family (pictured). Machinations were already underway that would affect Michaels young adulthood. At age 26, Michael Harry-O Harris was a millionaire. Harris came up with the record label's name while temporarily housed on Death Row in San Quentin State Prison. Harris joined the high school band as a trombone and drum player. 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