Jason Meisner

Jason Meisner has covered the federal courts beat since 2013, writing about political corruption, terrorism and gang racketeering. In 2018, he was part of the Tribune's award-winning team covering the historic murder trial of Chicago police Officer Jason Van Dyke.

An apartment door is left open and damaged with clothing and other items on the floor inside the building at 7500 S. South Shore Drive Oct. 2, 2025, after federal agents descended on the apartments.(Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune)

Two arrests in infamous South Shore immigration raid among dozens that violated consent decree, judge rules

March 1, 2026 at 12:39 p.m.

The arrests of two people in the infamous overnight raid of an apartment building in South Shore were among more than 30 Operation Midway Blitz cases where immigration agents violated...

Joselyn Walsh, third from left, leaves the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse on Feb. 26, 2026, with Congressional candidate Kat Abughazaleh, fourth from right, and Andre Martin, right, following behind after a hearing in the “Broadview Six” conspiracy case. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)

Feds to pare down conspiracy allegations in ‘Broadview Six’ case against Operation Midway Blitz protesters

February 26, 2026 at 4:04 p.m.

Federal prosecutors said Thursday they plan to narrow conspiracy allegations and review "newly unearthed" evidence in the politically charged “Broadview Six” case accusing a group of Democrats and other protesters...

Tommy Schaefer, right, and Heather Mack, both of Chicago, arrive for their trial at Denpasar's district court in Bali, Indonesia, on April 9, 2015. Schaefer and Mack were on trial for the murder of Mack's mother, Sheila von Wiese-Mack, whose badly beaten body was found in a suitcase in the trunk of a taxi outside an upscale hotel in August 2014 on the resort island of Bali. (Firdia Lisnawati/AP)

Tommy Schaefer enters plea of not guilty in Bali suitcase murder

February 26, 2026 at 2:53 p.m.

Tommy Schaefer pleads not guilty to conspiracy charges in the bludgeoning death of Sheila von Wiese-Mack, the mother of his then-girlfriend, Heather Mack.

Ex-boyfriend of Heather Mack flown to Chicago to face charges in Bali suitcase killing

February 25, 2026 at 12:28 p.m.

After spending more than a decade in prison overseas, the former boyfriend of Heather Mack is set to appear in a Chicago courtroom on Thursday on conspiracy charges stemming from...

Congressional candidate Kat Abughazaleh, center, and her deputy campaign manager, Andre Martin, far left, leave with their attorneys from the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse in the Loop on Jan. 28, 2026, after a hearing on charges of conspiracy during a protest outside the Broadview ICE facility in September. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)

Lead prosecutor in ‘Broadview Six’ immigration protest case leaving for DC ahead of high-profile trial

February 24, 2026 at 4:47 p.m.

The lead prosecutor in the politically charged 'Broadview Six' case accusing a group of Democrats and other protesters of conspiring to impede immigration agents at the Broadview ICE facility is...

Former Chicago police Detective Reynaldo Guevara testifies remotely from Texas on Feb. 12, 2026, in a wrongful conviction trial where he is accused of framing Jaime Rios for a June 27, 1989, gang-related murder in Humboldt Park. (L.D. Chukman)

Federal jury finds ex-CPD detective Guevara coerced confession in 1988 murder case, awards $750,000

February 20, 2026 at 2:49 p.m.

A federal jury has found that disgraced former Chicago police Detective Reynaldo Guevara coerced a confession and manipulated evidence in a 1989 murder case, awarding $750,000 to a former Latin...

Former ComEd Vice President Fidel Marquez, a key witness in the racketeering case against Michael Madigan, leaves the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse on April 5, 2024. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune)

Ex-ComEd executive who went undercover for FBI in Madigan bribery probe gets probation

February 19, 2026 at 6:37 p.m.

More than seven years after he agreed to become an FBI mole, former ComEd executive Fidel Marquez was sentenced to two years of probation Thursday for his role in a...

Then-Cook County Board Member Jeff Tobolski meets with the County Board on Sept. 11, 2013, in Chicago. (Nancy Stone/Chicago Tribune)

Contractor admits to bribing McCook mayor, acting as bag man for other extortion payments

February 17, 2026 at 4:28 p.m.

A suburban contractor swept up in the corruption investigation of then-McCook Mayor Jeff Tobolski admitted in federal court Tuesday he paid bribes in exchange for contracts with the village.

Reynaldo Guevara leaves the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse in Chicago on June 8, 2018. (Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune)

Ex-CPD detective invokes 5th Amendment dozens of times in wrongful conviction trial

February 12, 2026 at 4:40 p.m.

Disgraced former Chicago police detective Reynaldo Guevara invoked his Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination more than 80 times Thursday in an ongoing federal wrongful conviction trial.

Juan Espinoza Martinez with his three U.S.-born children. Espinoza Martinez is facing deportation despite a jury finding him not guilty of putting a bounty on Border Patrol Cmdr. Gregory Bovino during Operation Midway Blitz. (Family photo)

Immigration judge denies bond for Chicago man acquitted in Bovino murder-for-hire plot

February 11, 2026 at 5:49 p.m.

An immigration judge on Wednesday denied bond to a Chicago man acquitted last month of charges he offered money for the killing of Border Patrol Cmdr. Gregory Bovino.

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