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.

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)

Attorneys for ‘Broadview Six’ protesters cite killings in Minneapolis in asking for evidence to be public

January 28, 2026 at 4:09 p.m.

Defense attorneys in the politically charged case accusing a group of Democrats and other protesters of conspiring to impede immigration agents argued in a court hearing Wednesday that events in...

A surveillance image allegedly captured Jawad Fakroune, left, threatening and then beating a Chicago restaurateur on Nov. 25, 2024, over repayment of a $1.5 million loan. Fakroune was charged with extortion and flight to avoid prosecution. The image contains areas redacted in the court filing. (U.S. attorney's office)

Jury convicts man who posed as drug lord’s son in beating, extortion of Chicago restaurateur

January 27, 2026 at 5:27 p.m.

A federal jury deliberated for two hours before finding Jawad Fakroune guilty of two extortion-related charges alleging he attacked Adolfo Garcia in an effort to collect on hundreds of thousands...

Attorney Christopher Parente, left, speaks to reporters at the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse in Chicago on Nov. 20, 2025, as his client Marimar Martinez, center, and law partner Damon Cheronis, right, look on after federal prosecutors abruptly moved to dismiss all charges against Martinez. (Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune)

Lawyer for woman shot by Border Patrol agent in Chicago wants bodycam footage, other evidence made public

January 27, 2026 at 10:08 a.m.

Citing the recent "executions" of two U.S. citizens by immigration agents in Minneapolis, a lawyer for a Chicago woman shot by a Border Patrol agent in October asked a judge...

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)

‘Like we’re starting all over again’; Chicago man acquitted on Bovino murder-for-hire charges now in ICE custody

January 24, 2026 at 8:36 a.m.

A day after a Chicago construction worker was acquitted by a federal jury of charges he offered money to kill Border Patrol Cmdr. Gregory Bovino he found himself back in...

Attorneys Steve Art, left, and Craig Futterman, right, speak at the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse in Chicago on Jan. 8, 2026, after Judge Sara Ellis delayed ruling on their request to dismiss a case brought by the Chicago Headline Club. Since then, the case has been officially dismissed. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)

Lawsuit over use of force by immigration agents in Midway Blitz officially dismissed

January 22, 2026 at 8:00 p.m.

A federal judge in Chicago on Thursday officially dismissed a lawsuit that led to her landmark injunction limiting the use of force by immigration agents during Operation Midway Blitz.

U.S. Border Patrol Cmdr. Gregory Bovino stands with other federal agents near the Newberry Library in Chicago’s Gold Coast on Sept. 28, 2025, as part of a show of force in the downtown area. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)

Jury acquits Chicago man facing charge of soliciting murder of Border Patrol Cmdr. Bovino

January 22, 2026 at 7:24 p.m.

Chicago construction worker Juan Espinoza Martinez was found not guilty of putting a bounty on the head of Border Patrol Cmdr. Gregory Bovino.

People yell at U.S. Border Patrol Cmdr. Gregory Bovino and other agents while they stop at a gas station while conducting an immigration enforcement action, Dec. 17, 2025, in Evanston. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)

‘I’m really confused about this’: Jurors see agents’ interview of Chicago man accused of putting bounty on Bovino’s head

January 22, 2026 at 7:02 a.m.

A federal jury is expected heard testimony Wednesday from a government informant who said a Chicago man passed along a bounty from the Latin Kings street gang calling for the...

U.S. Border Patrol Cmdr. Gregory Bovino walks with agents after detaining a person while conducting an immigration enforcement operation in Little Village on Dec. 16, 2025. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)

Jury selected in trial of Chicago man accused of promoting gang bounty on Greg Bovino

January 20, 2026 at 5:22 p.m.

After a daylong process that took place partially out of public earshot, a jury was selected Tuesday in the trial of a Chicago man accused of passing along a gang...

Trial over alleged gang bounty on Bovino to offer litmus test as immigration enforcement controversies continue

January 20, 2026 at 2:07 p.m.

A Chicago man once accused of being a ranking member of Chicago's Latin Kings street gang is to go on trial in a murder-for-hire plot targeting Border Patrol Cmdr. Gregory...

Jawad Fakroune is charged with beating and extorting a Chicago restaurateur in 2024 over a $1.5 million loan. This surveillance image allegedly shows Fakroune entering an Italian restaurant in New York City on Dec. 18, 2024, after federal agents went to arrest him at an apartment and he fled nearly naked out the back door. The circle annotation is contained in the court filing. (U.S. attorney's office)

Extortion trial to provide window into the world of an alleged Chicago con man

January 19, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

At a trial this week, prosecutors will allege Jawad Fakroune is a convicted con man who used fake identities, false promises and, at times, threats and violence to further his...

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