Death Row Records helped to popularize the West Coast rap sound with artists such as Snoop Dogg, Kurupt, Nate Dogg, and Tupac Shakur. 'It's all about using resources to help people. (www.ikeatkinsonkingpin.com) Scott Wilson is a native of Bronx, NY and a former New York State and Westchester County correction officer. He told me, ''No, rest assured I want to be involved with saving lives.''' 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. Should rap lyrics be used as evidence in court? There was a specific phone in Death Row Records office dedicated to taking Harris calls. 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. 'I've been through storms, but I was able to not give up,' he said. She helped to send him to West Los Angeles community college. '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. 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Who is Michael "Harry-O" Harris? On Friday, U.S. District Judge Terry Hatter Jr. ordered Harris attorneys to file a 20-page reply to the federal governments response by May 22, according to court records. Dozens dead in Greeces worst rail disaster, Teen girls arrested after allegedly riding scooters into San Francisco pedestrians, Internet personality Yo Pesci receives seven year sentence after flashing firearms on social media, Gang member gave 14-year-old permission to open fire on woman with AR-15 after fender-bender, DA alleges. None of (Harris) arguments, including those related to COVID-19, justify a permanent, irrevocable reduction in his sentence, assistant U.S. Michael 'Harry O' Harris had served 30 years of a 25-years-to-life sentence for conspiracy to commit first-degree murder when he learned he was going to be released early from a California . He began selling cocaine with his younger brother David. Get the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Popularized by the disco scene, cocaine was seen as something of a lavish indulgence, relegated to the rich. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". 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. Michael 'Harry-O' Harris spent over 30 years in prison for attempted murder and drug crimes Harris was convicted of attempted murder and kidnapping from cases dating back to 1988. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. 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. One nearly made it. Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot concedes defeat, Southern California home sales fall to all-time low, Denver just got a direct flight to this Caribbean island known for music history and vegetarian cooking, NYC Mayor Adams dismisses need to separate church and state, declares himself a servant of God, Zero-calorie sweetener linked to heart attack and stroke, study finds, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. As a result Harris and ex-wife Lydia filed a multi-million dollar lawsuit and were awarded a $107million judgment against the record label and Knight. He is a Fulbright scholar and a consultant to the History Channel's Gangland documentary series. The proliferation of the cocaine trade throughout the 1980s gave many enterprising hustlers a chance to finance their dreams. Original founder of Death Row records. Pardoned August 28, 2020, Life sentence for money laundering and involvement in drug trafficking. Mike was never a bad guy. I have to take responsibility for my part, he said. The coronavirus outbreak in the Lompoc prison complex which comprises two federal prisons is widely considered the worst of any federal jail or prison, nationwide. Harris had money to invest and he believed in Knights vision and Dr. Dres promise to deliver as a solo artist. Prince sets the record straight on the origins of Rap-A-Lot Records. Please check your browser settings or contact your system administrator. Nate Gartrell covers crime and corruption in Contra Costa County. Navy submariner. 'And I can say that this next part of my life journey will be from a place of truth: the young boy that I was, is very, very proud of the man I am today. Harris gave other arising performers their chance at potential stardom when he funded the opening of a theater company. Jakob Cedergren, Lene Maria Christensen, Kim Bodnia, Lars Brygmann, Anders Hove, Jens Jrn Spottag, Henrik Lykkegaard. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. As a result Harris and ex-wife Lydia filed a multi-million dollar lawsuit and were awarded a $107 million judgment against the record label and Knight. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. He also went on to take classes in acting at college. to Harris' attorney Steve Goldberg, Harris has laid claim to a 50% stake in Rap-A-Lot . But by the time of Knight's visit, Harris was in the early stages of a lengthy sentence for attempted murder and drug trafficking. Michael Harris's career highlights include winning the Newbery Medal for his book To Kill a Mockingbird in 1960 and The Great Gilly Hopkins which won the Newbery Award for . Bush authorized legislation that imposed draconian penalties for drug offenses, which primarily and adversely affected young African American men living in the inner-city, such as Mr. Harris, Zucker said. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. South Central was ground zero for the crack explosion, and Michael Harris was in a position to capitalize. Michael "Harry-O" Harris, 60, is a music executive who financed the record label known for signing 2pac, Dr. Dre, and Snoop Dogg. So many ancillary figures never found happiness or success after their time on Death Row. As the years passed and Death Rows influence plummeted, so did the acknowledgment of Harris role. At FCI Lompoc, where Harris stays, roughly 80 percent of the 1,162 inmates have tested positive for the virus. His love for entertainment began when he was a child. 2023, Charter Communications, all rights reserved. He began to invest in real estate and various businesses. Out of all this drama going on with the White House, something good has come out of this.. Super Why! He is most known as the person who gave Suge Knight the seed money to start Death Row records. The alleged victim until recanted his testimony in 2011 and Harris was to be released as a result. Scott Adams faces 'consequence culture' as U.S. newspapers drop Dilbert, Tom Cruise's 'ditching' of Suri showcased by Judd Apatow's 'co-parenting' joke, ex-Scientology exec says. He enjoyed support from Kanye West, demanded A$AP Rocky be released from a Swedish prison and saw Ice Cube, Lil Wayne and Kodak Black align themselves with him for varying reasons in the weeks leading up to the 2020 election. Harris successful pardon campaign began in Dec. 2020 when Snoop asked for help from former music producer and federal prisoner Weldon Angelos. He was able to get San Quentin News back up and running, with him as the Editor-In-Chief. Together, they plan to rebuild Death Row, branding it as an NFT label and operating in the metaverse. 'As a force for good I will move in the name of peace, of reconciliation, of transformation and of redemption,' he said. The fact that he was arrested as Checkmates premiered on Broadway certainly didnt help matters at all. Denzel Washington, of course, is now one of the most popular and respected actors in cinema history. 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. And I think that's what's important. Cocaine kingpin Michael 'Harry O' Harris will leave Lompoc Federal Correctional Institution a free man on Tuesday after being pardoned by Donald Trump Snoop Dogg was instrumental in. 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. It occurred during the 1980s, at a time when then Presidents Ronald Regan and George H.W. Harris attorney alleges Harris spent 23 years in state prison over the first-degree attempted murder conviction. Period.. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". The label helped launch the careers of legendary hip-hop artists such as Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre and Tupac Shakur. 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 58-year-old Harris has been incarcerated in a. This commutation is more than equitable, and it is long overdue. He said: 'Over 30 years ago I was part of the problem. Which makes his pardon all the more fascinating. A lie like that. Being a drug dealer is what Michael Harris did, not who he is, his attorneys wrote in the compassionate release motion, later adding: During his time as a drug dealer, he has said, he had grown physically as a male, but he acted in immature boyish ways, to the detriment of himself, his family, and countless others. ', The comments below have not been moderated, By President Donald Trump announced 143 pardons and commutations as he left office, including the commutation of Michael Harris sentence. But aged 20 he started selling crack cocaine, making close connections with both the infamous Bloods and Rolling 60s Crips gangs. 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. He was scheduled to be released from jail in October of 2028. 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. Later pushed Trump to introduce martial law, WELDON ANGELOS Pardoned December 22, 2020, Snoop Dogg producer convicted of drug and gun charges, ALEX VAN DER ZWAAN Pardoned December 22, 2020, Dutch lawyer who lied to the FBI during Mueller probe, GEORGE PAPADOPOULOS Pardoned December 22,2020, One-time Trump campaign adviser who lied to the FBI. Per The Daily Mail, Harris co-founded Death Row Records in 1992 by giving Suge Knight a $1.5 million investment. Additionally, rapper Kodak Black is rumored to be included in the list as well, who was sentenced to 48 months in prison on federal weapons charges in 2019. Prince appears no longer fazed by the issue, but still feels its something Harris needs to clean up personally. While in prison, he collaborated with Suge Knight to create Death Row Records in 1991, the label that launched the careers of Dr Dre, Tupac Shakur, and Snoop Dogg. 41.6k Followers, 151 Following, 22 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Michael "Harry-O" Harris (@theofficialharryo) theofficialharryo. Harris is currently incarcerated in Federal Correctional Institution Lompoc, where his federal sentence is set to end in October 2028. Nicholas Castel Vanderburgh, Zachary Bloch, Tajja Isen, Siera Florindo. In the late 1980s, Harris was convicted of attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder in state court. Our Spectrum News app is the most convenient way to get the stories that matter to you. Meanwhile, Denzel Washington is likely signing on for a role in another blockbuster and making space on his shelf for another award. Later the victim recanted, and the attempted murder charges were dropped, but Harris continued to spend time behind bars for the drug charge for a total of 33 years. The two formed a parent company for Death Row Records known as Godfather Entertainment, but business disputes between Knight and Harris ultimately curbed the partnership. He reportedly gave a $1.5 million investment to the labels co-founder Marion Suge Knight. In 1988, Harris was convicted on kidnapping and attempted murder charges. After being paroled in 2011 by San Quentin Prison, Harris was taken into custody by U.S Marshalls upon his release. He firmly believes Cash Money Records takin ova for da 99 and da 2000 is the single most impactful statement of his generation. On the last day of his presidency, Donald Trump has reportedly pardoned Michael "Harry-O" Harris, the co-founder of Death Row Records. Nutall said he found his inspiration to help others working for 17 years at a juvenile facility, helping children convicted of crimes to get back into education, learn life skills and reduce their prison sentences. Los Angeles, CA-Michael "Harry-O" Harris, is set to be released later this month after serving 31-years in prison. This milestone might have been more celebrated had it not been for his previous occupation. At age 26, Michael "Harry-O" Harris was a millionaire. . The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". He became editor-in-chief of the San Quentin News and is credited with bringing the award-winning newspaper back from the brink. 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. Doing so, Harris has spent his time campaigning for prison reform. Harris had heard about Knight, a former college football player (and briefly an NFL scab) and bodyguard who had moved into the music industry. His organization, first founded in Hollywood, California, has helped cast-offs from the show business industry including Miguel Nunez Jr. from the movie Juwanna Mann, Jon Jon from the R&B group Troop, Jada Cacchilli from TV show The Bad Girls' Club and Ola Ray from Michael Jackson's Thriller music video. At age 26, Michael Harry-O Harris was a millionaire. Ryan Parry, West Coast Editor For Dailymail.com Harry-O never had no business whatsoever where Rap-A-Lot was concerned. 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/. Checkmates was his Broadway debut, adding to what had already been shaping up to be a stellar career. It helped acquit Snoop Dogg of charges in a murder case and secured Tupac Shakurs freedom following a sexual assault conviction. She had two . Former cocaine kingpin Michael 'Harry O' Harris, who helped found Death Row Records, the label behind music legends Dr Dre, Tupac Shakur and Snoop Dogg, is set to be released from prison after 31 years behind bars, DailyMailTV can reveal. , updated Harris tells Fernandez about the highs and lows of the working with Death Row Records, which he helped manage from behind bars. Prince responded. Washington, a native of Mount Vernon, New York, had already developed quite a resume by the time Checkmates premiered on Broadway. The list included political allies such as former chief strategist Steve Bannon and musicians such as Lil Wayne and Kodak Black, both of whom have expressed vocal support for the 45th president. Michael "Harry-O" Harris and others in Los Angeles Federal Court. 21:54 GMT 16 Aug 2019. 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. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. 41.6K followers. July 26, 2021. 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). They needed money, yet Knight wasnt interested in going to the expected corporate outlets for the resources. Harris likely knew that going in. Additionally, Harris is building a network called Philanthropy TVin order to shine a light on the extraordinary stories of people giving back. At this point, Harris decided it was time to leave the drug business behind and pursue more legitimate goals. Look what it did to my family. Josh Boswell For Dailymail.com Kidtoon Films / Out of the Blue Enterprises / Decode Entertainment. I want to give people the second chance that God gave me.'. 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. That lie needs [sic] to be cleaned up. 2nd Chance founder Nutall said he formed a relationship with Harris through his brother, who is languishing in the same federal prison in California. I hope someday he will clear it up because I think itd be better for his resume., J. I am a man who came to prison a boy and who will emerge as a grown man.'. Ex-sheriff of Maricopa County, Arizona. Michael Harris was born on September 20th, 1960, on West 46th Street in South Central Los Angeles. 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.