For Harris, this is a chance to right the wrongs he committed in the past and a chance at redemption. Many gangsters throughout history have invested money in legitimate businesses. Super Why! He has received parole and is currently awaiting release. Michael Harris: A Convicted Drug Kingpin Who Gave One of Americas Most Respected Actors His Start on Broadway By Ron Chepesiuk and Scott Wilson The street hustler who wants to go legit is as well worn a clich as you are likely to find in the annals of criminal lore. 22 posts. 41.6K followers. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. 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 label became an extremely successful business venture for both Harris and Knight, selling 18 million albums and earning more than $325 million during its first four years. He has also been interviewed by Rap Entertainment Television (www.rapentertainment.com) for a documentary on former heroin kingpin Leslie Ike Atkinson. All Eyez on VIBE magazines 1996 Death Row cover, For Death Rows Suge Knight violent bully, music executive it seems the ride is over, The murder of Tupac Shakur is a tragedy but the why is not a complete mystery, On the 25th anniversary of Snoop Doggs Doggystyle a look back at his life and times. , updated He enjoyed support from Kanye West, demanded A$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. He Gave Suge Knight $1.5 Million To Start Death Row Records. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. AHH yes Ron Chepesiuk, wonderful human being, however his investigative methods leave a lot of the people e gets his info from angry. Harris came up with the record label's name while temporarily housed on Death Row in San Quentin State Prison. In reviewing Michael Harris case, his story, and what hes gone through, this is such an unfair caseHe should have been home a decade ago.. Had Michael Harris been allowed to complete his transition into the entertainment business, there is no telling what he could have accomplished. Harris was convicted in 1989 on conspiracy and murder charges, with an additional 19-years and 7 months for cocaine trafficking. Michael "Harry-O" Harris. In 2005, Knight was ordered to pay Lydia Harris $107 million for her 50% stake in Death Row and in unpaid royalties. Who is Michael 'Harry-O' Harris? Would dismantling Interstate 980 repair damage to Black neighborhoods? Jakob Cedergren, Lene Maria Christensen, Kim Bodnia, Lars Brygmann, Anders Hove, Jens Jrn Spottag, Henrik Lykkegaard. They initially refused to hang up, and Knight eventually caught assault charges for his punishment of both. He also went on to take classes in acting at college. As the sixties transitioned into the seventies, the Panthers were weakened through infighting and assaults by various government agencies. Pardoned August 28, 2020, NICHOLAS SLATTEN, PAUL SLOUGH, EVAN LIBERTY, DUSTIN HEARD, King Charles hosts von der Leyen at Windsor Castle, Huge urgent police search for missing baby of Constance Marten, Shocking video shows machete fight in broad daylight, Gabor Mat: No Jewish state without oppressing local population, Putin spy plane before being 'destroyed by pro-Ukraine Belarus group', Amplified jet stream could lead to 'disruptive snow in places', Pupils take to TikTok as they stage protest at Shenfield High School, Dashcam captures moment two cars collide on a roundabout, Putin orders intelligence service to find 'scum' who oppose him, Moment supermarket cashier is attacked at work in New York, Police search allotment sheds for Constance Marten's missing baby, Police: Constance Marten's baby may have come to serious harm, Josh Boswell In Lompoc, California For Dailymail.Com. I was a player who knew how to get things done from the streets to suites. Now he wants to give back. Student debt cancellation program in jeopardy as Supreme Court justices heararguments, Social media star Kai Cenat ends February by making Black history, YouTube star taunts T.I. Prince sets the record straight on the origins of Rap-A-Lot Records. Despite his good intentions, his past caught up to him, and he was arrested not only for drug trafficking, but for attempted murder a crime he says he didn't commit. 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. For the last 20 or so years hes been creating programs. 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. Donald Trump has pardoned Michael "Harry-O" Harris's prison sentence in his presidency's twilight. Last August, a federal judge denied Harris appeal for an early release under early release under Amendment 782, an Obama-era law that changed sentencing guidelines for federal drug convictions. Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Your US State Privacy Rights | Children's Online Privacy Policy | Interest-Based Ads | About Nielsen Measurement | Do Not Sell My Personal Information | Contact Us | Disney Ad Sales Site. He met Michael Harris through the limousine company that he owned, which is how he ended up scoring the role in Checkmates. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. 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. We are all grateful for the hard work on this case by prison reform professionals Alice Johnson, Weldon Angeleno, and artist Snoop Dogg, as well as private investigator and sentencing expert John Brown.. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. In 2019 Harris spoke exclusively to DailyMailTV, pledging to 'give back' to the communities he came from. Now 58, Harris is far removed from the street impresario he once prided himself on being. Harris' desire to help the less fortunate may stem from his hard-knock childhood, growing up in South Central Los Angeles in the 'low bottoms' neighborhood and spending his school years shining shoes for 'high-rollers and players'. 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. Fox News Pete Hegseth lobbied for their release, Trump campaign chairman (pictured) who admitted conspiracy against the U.S., and was convicted of tax and bank fraud as part of Mueller probe. It does not store any personal data. 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. 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. However, over the years I have repeatedly proven myself to be part of the solution. Harry-O never had no business whatsoever where Rap-A-Lot was concerned. 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. 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. // ]]>, Report an Issue | Per The Daily Mail, Harris co-founded Death Row Records in 1992 by giving Suge Knight a $1.5 million investment. By clicking submit, you agree to receive emails from Rolling Out and accept our web terms of use and privacy and cookie policy. Late last week, the ACLU filed a class-action suit on behalf of Lompoc inmates, accusing the prison of deliberate indifference to stopping the spread of the virus. 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. But in recent years, opinion has done an about-face and artists such as Jay-Z, Snoop and T.I. Harris and Wasserman . The DEA convicted . 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. But instead of being released, Harris was transferred to federal prison to begin serving a 235-month sentence for his drug crimes. Still has to forfeit his ill-gotten millions, CHARLES KUSHNER Pardoned December 23, 2020, Jared's father and billionaire real-estate developer. The label is also equally as infamous for its alleged drug ties and use of violence. For a few years in the 90s, Death Row was the symbol of Black power and dominance. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. (@ThatNiggaSim) August 14, 2019 Michaels father, who he described as a wealthy businessman with three families, left when the he was just five years old. He is an American author who has written over 100 books for children and young adults. Checkmates was also a landmark in a very different sense. He told me, ''No, rest assured I want to be involved with saving lives.''' Death Row Records helped to popularize the West Coast rap sound with artists such as Snoop Dogg, Kurupt, Nate Dogg, and Tupac Shakur. Lil D from Oakland and I heard the homey say it was said to him that he owned the Geto Boys back in the day. 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. Terms of Service, 2023Gangsters Inc. - www.gangstersinc.org 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. Angelos was also pardoned by Trump in December. 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. Michael "Harry-O" Harris, 60, is a music executive who financed the record label known for signing 2pac, Dr. Dre, and Snoop Dogg. The former drug kingpin spent over 30 years in prison for convictions related to murder and racketeering. First member of Congress to endorse Trump, California Republican congressman who looted his own campaign funds for his, his wife's and his mistress' lifestyles. Founder of Godfather Entertainment, GF Music & Death Row Records. The Daily Mail notes Harris had a musical upbringing and was classically trained by a next-door neighbor. 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. 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. He was paroled from state prison in 2011, and immediately picked up by the U.S. South Central was ground zero for the crack explosion, and Michael Harris was in a position to capitalize. Giving back to the communities where my help is so desperately needed.'. If Mr. Harris were to become critically ill or die while in custody, it would be not only devastating from a human standpoint for Mr. Harris and his family, but would eliminate a person who, following his release, would in all probability serve as a great source of healing and mentoring in the disadvantaged community of South Central Los Angeles in which he was raised, Harris attorneys, Matthew Lombard and Bruce Zucker, wrote in a motion for compassionate release. Attorneys with the Central District of California wrote in a response motion. Recently pardoned Alice Johnson, who received help from Kim Kardashian West, was made aware of Harris through another colleague thanks to Snoop. However, over the years I have repeatedly proven myself to be part of the solution. It also happens to be based in truth. Harris had money to invest and he believed in Knights vision and Dr. Dres promise to deliver as a solo artist. His love for entertainment began when he was a child. A lie like that. But I've strived and struggled so hard to go on to do great things. Adding: Its 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 confessed to the Daily Mail that he was reforming himself while behind bars, saying: Over 30 years ago, I was part of the problem. I am a man who came to prison a boy and who will emerge as a grown man.'. and Donald Trump has pardoned Death Row Records co-founder and former drug kingpin Michael Harry O Harris after a secret campaign by rapper Snoop Dogg, DailyMail.com can exclusively reveal. Harris lorded over a drug empire that supplied cocaine to many states across the U.S., including Los Angeles, Texas and New York. 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. 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. In Donald Trumps final act as commander in chief, the now-former president unleashed a flurry of pardons and commutations. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. It is a prison complex that has gained national notoriety for its failure to contain COVID-19; with more than 1,700 cases and two fatalities, the prison was recently sued by the ACLU over its handling of the pandemic. Together, they plan to rebuild Death Row, branding it as an NFT label and operating in the metaverse. Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group, Camilla will officially be known as the QUEEN rather than 'Queen Consort' after King Charles' coronation, PICTURED: Pitbull owner, 31, arrested after his bloodthirsty dogs mauled man, 81, to death and injured victim's wife, 74, on Texas street as they visited friends' home, Amanda Knox plays the victim: Cleared murder suspect posts bizarre Twitter thread pondering what would have happened if she'd been killed in Italy not Meredith Kercher, What REALLY happens if you don't get enough sleep? 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. But instead of being released, Harris was born on September 20th,,! Strived and struggled so hard to go on to do great things next-door.. 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