Chicago Tribune reporter covering the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse and criminal justice issues in Chicago.https://bsky.app/profile/jmetr22b.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/jmetr22b.bsky.social/post/3mlw2tzduqc2l"I would say that if I had to walk down to the OK Corral, Sam would be the first person I would ask to join me," Mike Royko once wrote. "On second thought, I wouldn’t have to ask. He’d already be there.” RIP Sam Sianis https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/05/15/sam-sianis-billy-goat-chicago-dies/ by the Trib's Rick Kogan15 May 2026 19:27 +0000at://did:plc:vrwglonkfa7hsapabfvdh4l5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlw2tzduqc2lhttps://bsky.app/profile/jmetr22b.bsky.social/post/3mlvwillqsc2mAfter his release from jail, Gigi Rovito was back at his restaurant, Capri, showing off a larger-than-life social media personality and a Chicago-Italian accent thick as Sunday gravy. “Look at this shrimp," he says on one video. "Size of your sister’s ass!” https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/05/15/restaurant-owner-indiana-gambling-case-outfit-beating-plot/15 May 2026 18:09 +0000at://did:plc:vrwglonkfa7hsapabfvdh4l5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlvwillqsc2mhttps://bsky.app/profile/jmetr22b.bsky.social/post/3mlvsb6cesk2o'Our friend in Burr Ridge': Restaurant owner in Indiana gambling case once featured in Outfit beating plot https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/05/15/restaurant-owner-indiana-gambling-case-outfit-beating-plot/15 May 2026 16:53 +0000at://did:plc:vrwglonkfa7hsapabfvdh4l5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlvsb6cesk2ohttps://bsky.app/profile/jmetr22b.bsky.social/post/3mltale7bxs2xWas running late to cover a court hearing this morning and grabbed the first notebook I saw… turned out it was the 8-year-old’s nature journal. So now you all get to read his essay on ants: “Most people think they are gross but I think they are interesting little creatures” 😊14 May 2026 16:31 +0000at://did:plc:vrwglonkfa7hsapabfvdh4l5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mltale7bxs2xhttps://bsky.app/profile/jmetr22b.bsky.social/post/3mlqznrn6hc23///BREAKING/// Federal tort claims filed today against DHS allege 18 people were illegally arrested and brutalized in a controversial overnight raid in a South Shore apartment building during Operation Midway Blitz last fall. https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/05/13/south-shore-immigration-raids-tort-claim/13 May 2026 19:22 +0000at://did:plc:vrwglonkfa7hsapabfvdh4l5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlqznrn6hc23https://bsky.app/profile/jmetr22b.bsky.social/post/3mlorlww7t22hBoth sides in the upcoming "Broadview Six" trial want the jury to make an in-person visit to the ICE facility where the September protest and alleged impeding of the agent occurred. This promises to be the most elaborate misdemeanor trial in the history of U.S. jurisprudence:12 May 2026 21:53 +0000at://did:plc:vrwglonkfa7hsapabfvdh4l5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlorlww7t22hhttps://bsky.app/profile/jmetr22b.bsky.social/post/3mlmhvuzi4s2iA federal judge has issued an injunction finding ex-Attorney General Pam Bondi and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem effectively threatened Apple and Facebook with prosecution if they didn’t block two web pages that monitor ICE activity in Chicago. https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/05/11/judge-issues-injunction-to-keep-dhs-from-attempting-to-block-web-page-that-monitors-ice/11 May 2026 23:54 +0000at://did:plc:vrwglonkfa7hsapabfvdh4l5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlmhvuzi4s2ihttps://bsky.app/profile/jmetr22b.bsky.social/post/3mlefs6bsuc2bFederal prosecutors in the "Broadview Six" case have supplemented their request to show the jury video of "chants" from protesters who were allegedly impeding an ICE agent's vehicle. Among them: "Get a real job" "I believe we will win" and the succinct but ever-popular "FUCK YOU!"08 May 2026 18:55 +0000at://did:plc:vrwglonkfa7hsapabfvdh4l5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlefs6bsuc2bhttps://bsky.app/profile/jmetr22b.bsky.social/post/3mlbwq36i4c2t“I think this would have been a fun case to try.” Another lawsuit involving Chicago detective Reynaldo Guevara is settling on brink of trial, despite ex-State’s Atty Kim Foxx saying under oath she believes the plaintiffs are guilty of double-murder https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/05/07/another-lawsuit-involving-chicago-detective-reynaldo-guevara-settling-on-brink-of-trial/07 May 2026 19:20 +0000at://did:plc:vrwglonkfa7hsapabfvdh4l5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlbwq36i4c2thttps://bsky.app/profile/jmetr22b.bsky.social/post/3mlbka5aj7225"Congratulations. You are all no longer charged with felonies." If the "Broadview Six" trial goes forward, it would be a VERY rare federal misdemeanor jury trial. Ex-U.S. Rep. Mel Reynolds was convicted at trial of misdemeanor tax counts, but by a judge https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/05/07/broadview-six-dismiss-conspiracy-count/07 May 2026 15:36 +0000at://did:plc:vrwglonkfa7hsapabfvdh4l5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlbka5aj7225https://bsky.app/profile/jmetr22b.bsky.social/post/3mlbdxfa3qk2hJUST IN: Judge April Perry has granted the feds' motion to dismiss conspiracy counts against the "Broadview Six" "Congratulations. You all are no longer charged with felonies," the judge tells the four remaining defendants in court Background: https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/05/05/broadview-six-defense-grand-jury-dismiss/07 May 2026 13:44 +0000at://did:plc:vrwglonkfa7hsapabfvdh4l5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlbdxfa3qk2hhttps://bsky.app/profile/jmetr22b.bsky.social/post/3ml7x2vv7422zAide to U.S. Rep. Danny Davis charged with COVID-19 fraud A spokeswoman for Davis said Wednesday evening the congressman was “just hearing about” the charges against Gerard Moorer and had no comment. Story: https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/05/06/danny-davis-aide-covid-fraud/07 May 2026 00:21 +0000at://did:plc:vrwglonkfa7hsapabfvdh4l5/app.bsky.feed.post/3ml7x2vv7422zhttps://bsky.app/profile/jmetr22b.bsky.social/post/3ml7svlexrs2vJUST IN: Gerard Moorer, an aide to U.S. Rep. Danny Davis, D-Chicago, has been indicted on federal COVID-19 fraud charges alleging he claimed to be unemployed to collect $31,000 in pandemic compensation06 May 2026 23:06 +0000at://did:plc:vrwglonkfa7hsapabfvdh4l5/app.bsky.feed.post/3ml7svlexrs2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/jmetr22b.bsky.social/post/3ml7g6hj2rc2lJUST IN: Prosecutors in the "Broadview Six" case have formally moved to dismiss the conspiracy count with prejudice, but call out defense for "histrionically" speculating about "mounting national distrust" in DOJ's use of the grand jury process background: https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/05/05/broadview-six-defense-grand-jury-dismiss/06 May 2026 19:18 +0000at://did:plc:vrwglonkfa7hsapabfvdh4l5/app.bsky.feed.post/3ml7g6hj2rc2lhttps://bsky.app/profile/jmetr22b.bsky.social/post/3ml5dnozgv22mSo far, the court has ordered the release of 175 Chicago-area immigration arrestees and forced the government to return bond payments or lift conditions of relief for 168 others. Appeals court issues mixed opinion in consent decree case: https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/05/05/appeals-court-issues-mixed-opinion-in-consent-decree-case/05 May 2026 23:28 +0000at://did:plc:vrwglonkfa7hsapabfvdh4l5/app.bsky.feed.post/3ml5dnozgv22mhttps://bsky.app/profile/jmetr22b.bsky.social/post/3ml53opkspc2yJUST IN: Chicago police Sgt. Brandi Wright has been charged in U.S. District Court with fraudulently obtaining about $41,000 in Paycheck Protection Program funds during the COVID-19 pandemic:05 May 2026 21:05 +0000at://did:plc:vrwglonkfa7hsapabfvdh4l5/app.bsky.feed.post/3ml53opkspc2yhttps://bsky.app/profile/jmetr22b.bsky.social/post/3ml4w2egacs2yJUST IN: The 7th Circuit has issued a mixed ruling in the Trump Administration's appeal in the Castanon Nava consent decree case involving immigration arrests in Chicago. One key point: The court says the feds overstepped in holding people arrested during Midway Blitz in mandatory detention05 May 2026 19:24 +0000at://did:plc:vrwglonkfa7hsapabfvdh4l5/app.bsky.feed.post/3ml4w2egacs2yhttps://bsky.app/profile/jmetr22b.bsky.social/post/3ml4nil6xak27“In these circumstances, there is virtually no interest in maintaining secrecy in how the government instructed a now dismissed grand jury on the law" Allegations continue to fly in "Broadview Six" case three weeks ahead of trial https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/05/05/broadview-six-defense-grand-jury-dismiss/05 May 2026 16:51 +0000at://did:plc:vrwglonkfa7hsapabfvdh4l5/app.bsky.feed.post/3ml4nil6xak27https://bsky.app/profile/jmetr22b.bsky.social/post/3ml2scffktc2zHere is the crux of the motion: [contains quote post or other embedded content]04 May 2026 23:12 +0000at://did:plc:vrwglonkfa7hsapabfvdh4l5/app.bsky.feed.post/3ml2scffktc2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/jmetr22b.bsky.social/post/3ml2ncy2hjs2kJUST IN: Lawyers in the “Broadview 6” case smell a rat in how the main conspiracy count was dismissed on the day the feds had been ordered to bring unredacted grand jury transcripts to the judge for review. They’re asking that they be disclosed Background: https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/04/29/conspiracy-count-broadview-six-protestor-case/04 May 2026 21:43 +0000at://did:plc:vrwglonkfa7hsapabfvdh4l5/app.bsky.feed.post/3ml2ncy2hjs2khttps://bsky.app/profile/jmetr22b.bsky.social/post/3ml2h3xvt2s25Chicago Tribune wins Pulitzer Prize for local reporting: Read the stories and see the photos https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/05/04/chicago-tribune-pulitzer-prize-stories-photos/04 May 2026 19:52 +0000at://did:plc:vrwglonkfa7hsapabfvdh4l5/app.bsky.feed.post/3ml2h3xvt2s25https://bsky.app/profile/jmetr22b.bsky.social/post/3mkt4yqbjs22v“The stars were aligned” When Bruce Springsteen handed his harmonica to a young fan at his show in Chicago, it was a seemingly random gesture that “The Boss” has incorporated into numerous shows. But this one had a stunning and poignant connection. https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/05/01/bruce-springsteens-harmonica-boy-unseen-connections/01 May 2026 22:02 +0000at://did:plc:vrwglonkfa7hsapabfvdh4l5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkt4yqbjs22vhttps://bsky.app/profile/jmetr22b.bsky.social/post/3mksappvg2k2mLots of new detail on the Winnetka home invasion here: The crew including rapper Lil Zay Osama targeted a cryptocurrency firm owner and held a victim face-down on the ground as a child ran for help, feds say. A McDonalds receipt left in a car was a key clue https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/05/01/court-filing-reveals-new-details-of-winnetka-home-invasion-linked-to-a-chicago-rapper/01 May 2026 13:36 +0000at://did:plc:vrwglonkfa7hsapabfvdh4l5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mksappvg2k2mhttps://bsky.app/profile/jmetr22b.bsky.social/post/3mkpyur2bvs2hAn Indiana woman who allegedly bought the 10mm gun used to kill a Chicago police officer and critically wound another will remain jailed pending trial The gun predictably led to “something tragic,” Magistrate Judge John Martin said. “That’s what happened here” https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/04/29/indiana-gun-cast-chicago-police-hospital-shooting/30 Apr 2026 16:10 +0000at://did:plc:vrwglonkfa7hsapabfvdh4l5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkpyur2bvs2hhttps://bsky.app/profile/jmetr22b.bsky.social/post/3mkprzxqnus26Retiring Chicago attorney Joe Duffy had many memorable moments in long career Like the time he used bar receipts to cross-examine an undercover agent about getting his client drunk “He said maybe one or two. I pulled out this receipt that said it was 12 beers” https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/04/30/longtime-chicago-attorney-joe-duffy-retires/30 Apr 2026 14:08 +0000at://did:plc:vrwglonkfa7hsapabfvdh4l5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkprzxqnus26https://bsky.app/profile/jmetr22b.bsky.social/post/3mknotp4uic2p“Why are we charging stuff like this?” Charge the agents who shot Marimar Martinez, right? Stuff that actually matters to people in this district. Not ‘you delayed a car from getting into the entrance of the Broadview facility by 20 seconds.'” UPDATE: https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/04/29/conspiracy-count-broadview-six-protestor-case/29 Apr 2026 18:06 +0000at://did:plc:vrwglonkfa7hsapabfvdh4l5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mknotp4uic2phttps://bsky.app/profile/jmetr22b.bsky.social/post/3mknhz4znis2bDEVELOPING: Prosecutors are dismissing the main conspiracy count in the politically charged “Broadview Six” case against immigration protesters in Broadview and will proceed instead with misdemeanor counts. https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/04/29/conspiracy-count-broadview-six-protestor-case/29 Apr 2026 16:03 +0000at://did:plc:vrwglonkfa7hsapabfvdh4l5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mknhz4znis2bhttps://bsky.app/profile/jmetr22b.bsky.social/post/3mkngdlgb3c2b////BREAKING/// The feds are dismissing the conspiracy count in this case and filing a superseding information to lesser charges [contains quote post or other embedded content]29 Apr 2026 15:33 +0000at://did:plc:vrwglonkfa7hsapabfvdh4l5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkngdlgb3c2b