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.

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)

Feds pull back on gang accusations against man charged in alleged Border Patrol Cmdr. Gregory Bovino murder-for-hire plot

January 7, 2026 at 5:41 p.m.

Federal prosecutors acknowledged for the first time Wednesday they have no direct evidence that a Chicago man accused of putting a bounty on the head of Border Patrol Cmdr. Gregory...

Michael McClain, a lobbyist and longtime confidant to former House Speaker Michael Madigan, and his wife, Cinda McClain, leave the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse after he was sentenced July 24, 2025. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)

Madigan confidant Michael McClain reports to prison

December 31, 2025 at 5:36 p.m.

A longtime ally and close confidant of disgraced former House Speaker Michael Madigan reported to a minimum-security federal prison camp Monday to serve his two-year sentence, federal prison records show.

Texas National Guard members walk outside of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement holding facility in Broadview on Oct. 9, 2025. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune)

Supreme Court deals Trump a defeat on bid to deploy National Guard in Illinois

December 23, 2025 at 6:17 p.m.

The conservative-majority U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday denied a request from President Donald Trump's administration to allow the Republican president to deploy National Guard troops to Illinois while a lower...

Lawrence Reed, 50, faces a federal charge after he allegedly poured gasoline on a 26-year-old woman riding a CTA Blue Line train and set her on fire, authorities said. (U.S. District Court)

Man accused of lighting woman on fire on CTA train faces new charge in arson outside City Hall

December 18, 2025 at 5:06 p.m.

A man accused of lighting a woman on fire on the CTA Blue Line last month has been indicted on additional federal charges alleging he lit a fire outside City...

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)

Lead prosecutor in Bovino murder-for-hire case unexpectedly leaving US attorney’s office ahead of trial

December 18, 2025 at 3:20 p.m.

The federal prosecutor heading up a high-profile case alleging a Chicago gang member solicited the murder of Border Patrol chief Gregory Bovino announced he's leaving the U.S. attorney's office just...

The Dirksen U.S. Courthouse in Chicago on Oct. 20, 2025. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune)

Four Corner Hustlers boss Labar Spann convicted — again — of racketeering and murder

December 15, 2025 at 6:02 p.m.

Reputed Four Corner Hustlers boss Labar "Bro Man" Spann is once again facing life in prison after being convicted in a retrial of racketeering conspiracy involving four gangland murders, including...

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officer Luis Uribe, charged in a series of robberies and sexual assaults of sex workers in Chicago's northwest suburbs, is shown in a photo in a court document allegedly meeting with a witness at a seafood buffet. (U.S. attorney's office)

Customs and Border Protection agent ordered held without bond on rape, robbery charges

December 15, 2025 at 4:05 p.m.

A federal judge on Monday ordered a Customs and Border Protection agent held without bond on charges he used his gun and badge to force his way into hotel rooms...

Border Patrol agents transfer a person to a van after he was detained during immigration enforcement actions on Oct. 31, 2025, in Niles. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)

Chicago appeals court blocks release of hundreds of Operation Midway Blitz detainees pending individual review

December 11, 2025 at 7:22 p.m.

A federal appeals court in Chicago issued a mixed opinion Thursday in a high-profile immigration case, blocking the immediate release of hundreds of people detained during Operation Midway Blitz but...

Illinois state Sen. Emil Jones III makes a thumbs-up gesture as he leaves the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse in Chicago on April 23, 2025, after another day of deliberation in his federal bribery trial. (Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune)

‘Happy for the early Christmas gift’: State Sen. Emil Jones III reaches deferred prosecution agreement in bribery case

December 11, 2025 at 4:01 p.m.

A month before his retrial on bribery charges, state Sen. Emil Jones III agreed to enter into a deferred prosecution deal that will leave him with no conviction as long...

Former Summit police Chief John Kosmowski leaves the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse on Dec. 10, 2025, after being found guilty of taking a bribe and obstructing justice. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune)

Ex-Summit police chief found guilty of taking bribe from bar owner, obstructing justice

December 10, 2025 at 4:16 p.m.

More than six years after the FBI knocked on his door as part of a sprawling corruption investigation, former Summit police Chief John Kosmowski was convicted by a federal jury...

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