Donald Trump has pardoned Michael "Harry-O" Harris's prison sentence in his presidency's twilight. He ran the theatre company which first scouted Denzel Washington's talent. Harris was charged with narcotics distribution and attempted murder. A specific office phone was dedicated to taking Harris calls, and Suge Knight (pictured) was charged with assaulting two rappers for using the phone. Checkmates was also a landmark in a very different sense. Criminal justice reform advocate Alice Johnson, who had her life sentence commuted by Trump in 2018, told the Daily Beast she had been lobbying Ivanka, Jared and White House chief of staff Mark Meadows to get Harris released. Harris came up with his record label's name while temporarily housed on Death Row in San Quentin State Prison. Michael Harry O Harris was born in December 1955 and passed away on April 16, 2019. '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.'. Harris says he tried to do right by his community by using the money to invest in local businesses. During Donald Trump's last days as POTUS, he pardoned and commuted over 140 people's prison sentences and . But for more than 20 years Harris has been full of remorse, and believes he has long been ready to rejoin society a changed man. Harry O was awarded a $107million dollars by the Court. ', The comments below have not been moderated, By Harry-O wanted in and figured the best way to get in was to buy his way in, so he used his money to bankroll a stage play called "Checkmates." It starred an up-and-coming actor named Denzel Washington (3rd pic). Michael Harris' right hand man Al Brown with the former drug baron's friends and family wait for his imminent release in from prison in Lompoc, California onTuesday. First goal was to own our masters. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. In the 1980s, a cheaper, smoke able version known as crack made te drug accessible to the poorer classes. At this point, Harris decided it was time to leave the drug business behind and pursue more legitimate goals. He told me, ''No, rest assured I want to be involved with saving lives.''' Pardoned August 28, 2020, Life sentence for money laundering and involvement in drug trafficking. Without your master tapes, you aint s. 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. On top of that, Harris motion argues that the U.S. Michael "Harry-O" Harris, a co-founder of Death Row Records who was serving 25 years to life, broke down in tears thanking former President Donald Trump in his first interview since being pardoned. Throughout his incarceration, Harris maintained his innocence. He began to invest in real estate and various businesses. South Central was ground zero for the crack explosion, and Michael Harris was in a position to capitalize. He has also been interviewed by Rap Entertainment Television (www.rapentertainment.com) for a documentary on former heroin kingpin Leslie Ike Atkinson. His mother tried hard to make sure that he had a semblance of a normal family life, as well as an alternative to what the increasingly dangerous streets of south central had to offer. However, by 2006 it was clear that Suge Knight and Death Row Records were unable to pay the full amount and so Suge Knight was forced to file bankruptcy and Death Row Records was auctioned off for $24 million even though Michael "Harry-O" Harris only received payment of $1million from the $107million Judgment. Harris' successful pardon campaign started on December 26, when Snoop asked for help from former music producer and federal prisoner Weldon Angelos, who was also pardoned by Trump last month. He grew a vast distribution network reaching New York, Florida, Texas, Arizona, Louisiana, Michigan, Indiana, Iowa, and Illinois, supplied by Colombian drug cartels, according to the DEA. But unlike many in his situation, Harris has the backing not just of justice reform advocates, but law enforcement members and elected officials, who have lobbied for his freedom in recent years. He firmly believes Cash Money Records takin ova for da 99 and da 2000 is the single most impactful statement of his generation. 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At 20 Harris started selling crack cocaine, making close connections with both the infamous Bloods and Rolling 60s Crips gangs, The label Death Row Records is behind music legends Dr Dre, Tupac Shakur (right) and Snoop Dogg (left,)Harris' successful pardon campaign started on December 26, when Snoop asked for help from former music producer and federal prisoner Weldon Angelos, who was also pardoned by Trump last month, Alongside his dealings with drug cartels, Harris ran a string of successful legitimate businesses, including a theatre company that gave actor Denzel Washington his first break. He said: 'Over 30 years ago I was part of the problem. But aged 20 he started selling crack cocaine, making close connections with both the infamous Bloods and Rolling 60s Crips gangs. Get hyperlocal forecasts, radar and weather alerts. His love for entertainment began when he was a child. 5 producer of Denzel Washington's 1987 Broadway play debut, Checkmates. 'Snoop brought this case to me, and I brought Alice Johnson on board to help it with me, and she brought it to the West Wing,' Angelos told the Daily Beast on Sunday. 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. Its number of confirmed cases has grown exponentially, nearly doubling from May 11 to May 17, according to published reports. Not as an inmate, but as a visitor. The label became an extremely successful business venture for both Harris and Knight, selling 18 million albums and earning more than $325 million during its first four years. For Harris, 58, this is only the latest attempt for a release. A lie like that. Farm Heroes Saga, the #4 Game on iTunes. He began selling cocaine with his younger brother David. Navy submariner. While the instincts that serve one well in the streets rarely work in the real world, some gangsters do have legitimate business savvy that can be applied in other areas. Nutall said with Harris' bankrolling and celebrity connections, he hopes to help many more people when the hip-hop investor is released. The 58-year-old Harris has been incarcerated in a. Death Row Records helped to popularize the West Coast rap sound with artists such as Snoop Dogg, Kurupt, Nate Dogg, and Tupac Shakur. Pardoned December 23, 2020, Veteran GOP dirty trickster and on-off adviser to Trump. July 26, 2021. 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/. After being paroled in 2011 by San Quentin Prison, Harris was taken into custody by U.S Marshalls upon his release. ', He added: 'I am a man who has experienced incredible highs and incredible lows. Michael Harris, gang-member and cocaine kingpin, was the first African American to produce a Broadway show. The San Antonio philanthropist said he was wary at first, having read about Harris' criminal past, but after getting to know the former kingpin, he became convinced 'Harry O' was a reformed man. Now 58, Harris is far removed from the street impresario he once prided himself on being. Would dismantling Interstate 980 repair damage to Black neighborhoods? 'I told him, ''I know you was a drug lord, I know you was a kingpin. Harris is a music executive who financed the record label Death Row Records, which is well known for signing 2pac, Dr Dre, and Snoop Dogg, reportedly giving a $1.5 million investment to the label's co-founder Marion 'Suge' Knight. LOMPOC A federal judge is expected to decide within weeks whether to free Michael Harry-O Harris, the incarcerated former Los Angeles cocaine kingpin who financed the creation of Death Row Records in the 1990s. At this point, Harris decided it was time to leave the drug business behind and pursue more legitimate goals. Many gangsters throughout history have invested money in legitimate businesses. I noticed one thing that a lot of people had in common: Music soothes even the people that you think that cannot be soothed.. Super Why! He is an American author who has written over 100 books for children and young adults. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. Death Row co-founder Harry O had his sentence commuted on Donald Trumps last day as president. It helped acquit Snoop Dogg of charges in a murder case and secured Tupac Shakurs freedom following a sexual assault conviction. Harris told DailyMailTV that he has 'grown and matured' while behind bars and has been 'inspired' to rediscover the 'thoughtful young boy' within him. He was convicted on the attempted murder charge (which has since been recanted) in 1987, and has since been serving a 28-year sentence in San Quinton maximum security prison. Harris likely knew that going in. And then, that was in 1989 or 90, J. The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. He reportedly gave a $1.5 million investment to the label's co-founder Marion "Suge" Knight. By 6. He said his corporation aims to 'empower individuals who would otherwise rely on government assistance'. Death Row went on to become one of the most storied and infamous labels in music history. 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Though now defunct, in its heyday Death Row Records was one of Harris' most successful ventures, selling 18 million albums and earning more than $325 million in its first four years alone, launching to stardom west coast rap legends including Dr. Dre, NWA, Snoop Dogg and Tupac Shakur, and was widely credited with changing the face of 90s hip hop. Mike was never a bad guy. 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. Nate Gartrell covers crime and corruption in Contra Costa County. They initially refused to hang up, and Knight eventually caught assault charges for his punishment of both. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. I want to be the person that they say, 'It's a better place since he was here.'". Through a mutual acquaintance, attorney David Kenner, Harris came to learn of the enterprising young Knight and an agreement was made. The fact that he was arrested as Checkmates premiered on Broadway certainly didnt help matters at all. Had Michael Harris been allowed to complete his transition into the entertainment business, there is no telling what he could have accomplished. 'I know that from the moment I'm free I will work tiredly to help change lives. Michael "Harry-O" Harris and others in Los Angeles Federal Court. 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Josh Boswell For Dailymail.com Pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about talks with Russia's ambassador and tried to reverse his plea while represented by 'Kraken' attorney Sidney Powell. Against All Odds: Oscar Goodman and the Jimmy Chagra Murder Trial, Drug trafficker Peter Shue on coke vs. heroin, doing 21 years, Suge, Alpo, Keith Sweat, Madonna & Mike Tyson, Inside Italy's biggest Mafia trial in decades. 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. The former drug kingpin spent over 30 years in prison for convictions related to murder and racketeering. Charlamagne questioned where the rumor came from, and Prince explained that Harry-O told a fellow friend that same information as well as authorities back in the day which ended up bringing the feds to sniff around the Houston CEOs compound. His sentence was due to last until 2028. TikTok star, 28, is charged with child abuse after 'attack on boyfriend', Rape survivor slams Gabby Petito Utah cop over handling of her case, 'Dark details' about boyfriend of US swim champ who mysteriously died, Disturbing red flags of Lindsay Clancy's psychosis before she 'killed 3 kids', 2020 THE SUN, US, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | TERMS OF USE | PRIVACY | YOUR AD CHOICES | SITEMAP, Michael 'Harry-O' Harris was imprisoned for nearly 30 years, Harris was charged with attempted murder and drug trafficking, Harris worked with rapper 2pac and Marion 'Suge' Knight in their label Death Row Records, Snoop Dogg advocated for Harris' release to President Trump, President Trump pardoned over 100 convicts in his last day in office, Pamela Anderson tells Tucker Carlson Trump needs to pardon Julian Assange, The drug king pin had his sentence pardoned, President Trump issued out over 100 pardons, rapper pleaded guilty to possessing a gold-plated handgun. He did a lot of good on the streets. Kodak Black tweeted that he would donate $1million to charity if Trump pardoned him, but has since deleted the post. Harris is currently incarcerated in Federal Correctional Institution Lompoc, where his federal sentence is set to end in October 2028. Alongside his dealings with drug cartels, Harris ran a string of successful legitimate businesses, including a theatre company that gave actor Denzel Washington his first break. 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. They became more militaristic and organized their feuds more plentiful and bloody. His true crime books include "Drug Lords, Black Gangsters of Chicago, Gangsters of Harlem Gangsters of Miami" and Sergeant Smack: The Lives and Times of Ike Atkinson. By Josh Boswell In Lompoc, California For Dailymail.Com, Published: 16:47 EST, 19 January 2021 | Updated: 02:27 EST, 20 January 2021. 2nd Chance TV show - Helping, Providing, Jobs. One of the things that rap provides for communities of color, it provided an avenue to share our stories, he said. He helped to run the company as it became the largest and most feared record label in the early 1990s from his jail cell. Marshal service miscalculated Harris federal sentence when he was sentenced to federal and state terms in the early 90s, and that Harris would be a free man today if not for their mistake. The day that you take responsibility for what you do is the day your life starts to change immediately.. A RECORD PRODUCER BEHIND BARS. Despite his gripe, J. 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