Chicago Tribune reporter covering the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse and criminal justice issues in Chicago. Signal: jmeisner48.08https://bsky.app/profile/jmetr22b.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/jmetr22b.bsky.social/post/3mupdepcryc2hAttorney Mike Clancy is asking a judge to reconsider dismissing sex assault charges against a CBP agent due to grand jury misconduct in the "Broadview 6" case. "Once poisoned, the grand jury cannot be assumed to have been magically rehabilitated." Background: https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/09/02/border-patrol-sexual-assault/04 Sep 2026 15:58 +0000at://did:plc:vrwglonkfa7hsapabfvdh4l5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mupdepcryc2hhttps://bsky.app/profile/jmetr22b.bsky.social/post/3munarlzdks2oJawad Fakroune claimed he was the son of a Colombian drug lord. He rubbed elbows with Chicago’s social elites, peddling investments to women he dated, pro athletes, and others. Convicted in January of attacking a restaurateur, he’s now pleaded guilty to fraud: https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/09/03/fraudster-who-posed-as-drug-lords-son/03 Sep 2026 20:06 +0000at://did:plc:vrwglonkfa7hsapabfvdh4l5/app.bsky.feed.post/3munarlzdks2ohttps://bsky.app/profile/jmetr22b.bsky.social/post/3mumv6o5dmc2hA retired FBI agent who'd once worked in Chicago’s organized crime division has admitted taking top secret government documents dealing with terrorism and national defense and hoarding them in his Colorado home. He also stole ...two FBI BlackBerries 😐 https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/09/03/ex-fbi-agent-admits-taking-documents/03 Sep 2026 16:38 +0000at://did:plc:vrwglonkfa7hsapabfvdh4l5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mumv6o5dmc2hhttps://bsky.app/profile/jmetr22b.bsky.social/post/3mul77rlf5s2o“Clearly under the separation of powers, I cannot manage the Executive Branch” With the anniversary of Midway Blitz approaching, a federal judge is weighing the merits of a lawsuit by Illinois’ AG and Chicago over aggressive immigration enforcement tactics https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/09/02/immigration-enforcement-tactics/03 Sep 2026 00:33 +0000at://did:plc:vrwglonkfa7hsapabfvdh4l5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mul77rlf5s2ohttps://bsky.app/profile/jmetr22b.bsky.social/post/3muhmzmc3pc2z“What do you think should happen to a Border Patrol agent when a U.S. District Judge has found his ‘testimony not credible’?” New records show ex-Border Patrol Cmdr. Greg Bovino was under internal investigation when he retired https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/08/31/bovino-retired-internal-investigation-border-patrol/ @royalpratt.bsky.social reports01 Sep 2026 14:29 +0000at://did:plc:vrwglonkfa7hsapabfvdh4l5/app.bsky.feed.post/3muhmzmc3pc2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/jmetr22b.bsky.social/post/3mufjrn5he22e"Nice to see you here in the flesh" Back from his sojourn in Dubai, ex-Loretto Hospital exec Anosh Ahmed pleads not guilty to COVID-19 fraud charges, but his lawyer hints that a plea deal is coming... story: https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/08/31/anosh-ahmed-pleads-not-guilty/31 Aug 2026 18:26 +0000at://did:plc:vrwglonkfa7hsapabfvdh4l5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mufjrn5he22ehttps://bsky.app/profile/jmetr22b.bsky.social/post/3mufbjm7r7c27Good morning from the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse, where former Loretto Hospital exec Anosh Ahmed is set to be arraigned on his COVID testing fraud case before Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman. Will there be talk of an evidentiary hearing? catch up here: https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/08/28/ex-loretto-hospital-exec-returns-to-chicago/31 Aug 2026 15:58 +0000at://did:plc:vrwglonkfa7hsapabfvdh4l5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mufbjm7r7c27https://bsky.app/profile/jmetr22b.bsky.social/post/3muf4iyw6ms2fHow fitting that when Bobby Dominic plead guilty, there was no big courthouse stir. Always the guy behind a guy, Dominic often held court at Richard's Bar --owned by his sister, at least on paper. Now he had a deal. "This is unusual," the judge began. ICYMI: https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/08/28/richards-bar-owner-deal/31 Aug 2026 14:28 +0000at://did:plc:vrwglonkfa7hsapabfvdh4l5/app.bsky.feed.post/3muf4iyw6ms2fhttps://bsky.app/profile/jmetr22b.bsky.social/post/3mu6cccllns24NEW: Bobby Dominic, the shadow owner of Richard’s Bar who’s been linked to the Chicago Outfit, has spent a lifetime on Grand Avenue, but always seemingly behind the scenes. Today he was sentenced in a strange tax case that had even the judge scratching her head https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/08/28/richards-bar-owner-deal/28 Aug 2026 21:23 +0000at://did:plc:vrwglonkfa7hsapabfvdh4l5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mu6cccllns24https://bsky.app/profile/jmetr22b.bsky.social/post/3mu5x7kx7ic2iAnosh Ahmed is appearing now before U.S. Magistrate Judge Young Kim. He’s in orange jail clothes, hands clasped behind his back. The judge addresses him as “Dr. Ahmed.” [contains quote post or other embedded content]28 Aug 2026 18:05 +0000at://did:plc:vrwglonkfa7hsapabfvdh4l5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mu5x7kx7ic2ihttps://bsky.app/profile/jmetr22b.bsky.social/post/3mu5nxre7vs2nUPDATE: Anosh Ahmed will be arraigned before a magistrate judge today at 1pm in the Loretto fraud case. He’ll appear again before IS District Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman on Monday for arraignment on the COVID fraud charges [contains quote post or other embedded content]28 Aug 2026 15:19 +0000at://did:plc:vrwglonkfa7hsapabfvdh4l5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mu5nxre7vs2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/jmetr22b.bsky.social/post/3mu5mlq5ybs2bAfter two years overseas, ex-Loretto Hospital exec Anosh Ahmed returns to Chicago to face fraud charges A lot has changed here since he left, including a scandal at the U.S. attorney’s office that involves his case. Will it tank the new indictment? Story: https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/08/28/ex-loretto-hospital-exec-returns-to-chicago/28 Aug 2026 14:55 +0000at://did:plc:vrwglonkfa7hsapabfvdh4l5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mu5mlq5ybs2bhttps://bsky.app/profile/jmetr22b.bsky.social/post/3mu5exn3o7226After two years overseas, living large (and at large) in Dubai and then detained in a Serbian jail, former Loretto Hospital CFO Anosh Ahmed is back in custody in Chicago: [contains quote post or other embedded content]28 Aug 2026 12:38 +0000at://did:plc:vrwglonkfa7hsapabfvdh4l5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mu5exn3o7226https://bsky.app/profile/jmetr22b.bsky.social/post/3mu46emvy3k26"You must remember this, a kiss is just a kiss..." A smooch video at the center of a Lyons Township FOIA fight could impact Cook County Board, Congress races https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/08/27/kiss-video-lyons-fight-cook-county-board-congress/ @adquig.bsky.social and @petrellareports.bsky.social report28 Aug 2026 01:07 +0000at://did:plc:vrwglonkfa7hsapabfvdh4l5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mu46emvy3k26https://bsky.app/profile/jmetr22b.bsky.social/post/3mu3vfnzyg22jJUST IN: Ex-Loretto Hospital CFO Anosh Ahmed has been re-indicted on 15 counts alleging a massive COVID test fraud scheme. This comes after the “Broadview 6” grand jury scandal derailed prosecutions against a number of co-defendants. Ahmed is said to be returning from Serbia27 Aug 2026 22:27 +0000at://did:plc:vrwglonkfa7hsapabfvdh4l5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mu3vfnzyg22jhttps://bsky.app/profile/jmetr22b.bsky.social/post/3mu3puoqrf22gThe feds say Tommy Schaefer was “willing to cross the world” to Bali and commit murder for a chance to live a lavish lifestyle...and it was all captured in texts with girlfriend Heather Mack. “He relished and spoke in a giddy way of getting this money" story: https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/08/27/heather-mack-boyfriend-bond-denied/27 Aug 2026 20:48 +0000at://did:plc:vrwglonkfa7hsapabfvdh4l5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mu3puoqrf22ghttps://bsky.app/profile/jmetr22b.bsky.social/post/3mu3iuiujps2xJUST IN: Judge Matthew Kennelly denies Tommy Schaefer's bid for release pending trial on charges he helped his girlfriend Heather Mack kill her mother in Bali in 2014 "Saying it's quite serious is a pretty significant understatement," Kennelly says https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/26/tommy-schaefer-bali-suitcase-murder/27 Aug 2026 18:43 +0000at://did:plc:vrwglonkfa7hsapabfvdh4l5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mu3iuiujps2xhttps://bsky.app/profile/jmetr22b.bsky.social/post/3mu35tib26k2kFor those keeping score, the defense in the "Broadview Six" case has asked for another extension to file their reply over the issue of sanctions/special counsel. The new date they're requesting is Sept. 15...this would be just about four months after the case collapsed.27 Aug 2026 15:25 +0000at://did:plc:vrwglonkfa7hsapabfvdh4l5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mu35tib26k2khttps://bsky.app/profile/jmetr22b.bsky.social/post/3mtze3g7qo22b“Once you put in some bad meat into that water, you can take out all of the spoiled stuff….the water’s still bad” Lawyer for Border Protection agent accused of sex assault asks judge for full evidentiary hearing into misconduct before "Broadview 6" grand jury https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/08/26/border-protection-agent-case/26 Aug 2026 22:12 +0000at://did:plc:vrwglonkfa7hsapabfvdh4l5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtze3g7qo22bhttps://bsky.app/profile/jmetr22b.bsky.social/post/3mtz2jreqok2iAs part of his deal with the feds, ex-Loretto Hospital CEO George Miller agreed to facts about the allegations in a separate attachment. That document has not been made public -- for unexplained reasons. No one asked on the record for it to be sealed. 🤫 https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/08/25/ex-loretto-hospital-ceo-diversion-deal/26 Aug 2026 19:21 +0000at://did:plc:vrwglonkfa7hsapabfvdh4l5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtz2jreqok2ihttps://bsky.app/profile/jmetr22b.bsky.social/post/3mtwrna3d522kUPDATE: The U.S. Attorney's office has responded to this motion to dismiss, saying there is no grounds for such a hearing when the purported grand jury misconduct "occurred in a different case, by a different prosecutor who had no involvement" in the charges against Uribe. [contains quote post or other embedded content]25 Aug 2026 21:36 +0000at://did:plc:vrwglonkfa7hsapabfvdh4l5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtwrna3d522khttps://bsky.app/profile/jmetr22b.bsky.social/post/3mtwbd5ykvs25“You got lucky here” Ex-Loretto Hospital CEO gets diversion deal amid US attorney's office scandal Story: https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/08/25/ex-loretto-hospital-ceo-diversion-deal/25 Aug 2026 16:44 +0000at://did:plc:vrwglonkfa7hsapabfvdh4l5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtwbd5ykvs25https://bsky.app/profile/jmetr22b.bsky.social/post/3mtw2fneups2sJUST IN: Ex-Loretto Hospital CEO George Miller enters diversion agreement that will see embezzlement charges against him dismissed after a year. His case was handled by the "Broadview 6" prosecutor "Mr. Miller, you got lucky here," judge says. Background: https://www.chicagotribune.com/2024/10/11/ex-loretto-hospital-ceo-charged-in-embezzlement-scheme/25 Aug 2026 14:40 +0000at://did:plc:vrwglonkfa7hsapabfvdh4l5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtw2fneups2shttps://bsky.app/profile/jmetr22b.bsky.social/post/3mttqmqz6e22kCustoms and Border Patrol agent Luis Uribe is set to go on trial on sexual assault and robbery charges in 2 weeks Now, his attorney wants the indictment dismissed, saying the "tainted" grand jury that indicted Uribe also handled the "Broadview Six" case story: https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/08/24/grand-jury-broadview-six-case-cbp-agent/24 Aug 2026 16:40 +0000at://did:plc:vrwglonkfa7hsapabfvdh4l5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mttqmqz6e22khttps://bsky.app/profile/jmetr22b.bsky.social/post/3mttkalcpmc2eJUST IN: The grand jury that indicted a CBP agent on robbery and sexual assault charges is the same panel from the Broadview 6 case, his lawyers say They want charges dismissed, saying the grand jury was irrevocably tainted by government misconduct" Background: https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/15/border-protection-agent-held-bond-rape/24 Aug 2026 14:46 +0000at://did:plc:vrwglonkfa7hsapabfvdh4l5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mttkalcpmc2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/jmetr22b.bsky.social/post/3mtoii37mak2uNearly 30 years after Chicago federal prosecutor William Hogan won his old job back, he’s the center of controversy at the Dirksen Courhouse once again, from redactions in Broadview Six transcrips to a Trump-related subpoena To some it’s Déjà vu all over again https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/08/22/william-hogan-us-attorney-office-controversy/22 Aug 2026 14:31 +0000at://did:plc:vrwglonkfa7hsapabfvdh4l5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtoii37mak2uhttps://bsky.app/profile/jmetr22b.bsky.social/post/3mtjkf5mtgc2lNEW: In a hearing on the ComEd Four case this morning, prosecutors say they are not yet ready to say whether the case will be retried. They're asking for a date in 60 days, at which point the case will be set for trial if negotiations aren't fruitful https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/06/15/feds-free-to-retry-ex-comed-ceo-lobbyist-in-scheme-to-influence-madigan-appeals-court-rules/20 Aug 2026 15:22 +0000at://did:plc:vrwglonkfa7hsapabfvdh4l5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtjkf5mtgc2lhttps://bsky.app/profile/jmetr22b.bsky.social/post/3mtercnv5722sJUST IN: Bobby Dominic, the mob-connected shadow owner of Richard’s bar on Grand Avenue, is now expected to plead guilty in a federal case involving his alleged hidden interest in sweepstakes gaming. His trial had been set for October. Background: https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/02/25/mob-connected-chicago-businessman-indicted-on-tax-charges-alleging-hidden-interest-in-sweepstakes-gaming/18 Aug 2026 17:42 +0000at://did:plc:vrwglonkfa7hsapabfvdh4l5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtercnv5722shttps://bsky.app/profile/jmetr22b.bsky.social/post/3mt4wqbumc22pThe Chicago US Attorney’s Office has been investigating a Democratic fund-raising firm once co-owned by the daughter of the judge in President Trump’s hush-money trial in New York, the NYT says. https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/15/us/politics/prosecutors-examined-firm-with-tie-to-judge-in-trump-hush-money-trial.html?smid=url-share15 Aug 2026 14:58 +0000at://did:plc:vrwglonkfa7hsapabfvdh4l5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mt4wqbumc22phttps://bsky.app/profile/jmetr22b.bsky.social/post/3mt2o4p2wvs25A felony conviction secured by the feds stemming from a traffic crash with agents during Operation Midway Blitz has now been reduced to a misdemeanor. Anthony Alvarez was originally indicted on the same day as the "Broadview Six" case, by the same grand jury https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/08/14/midway-blitz-case-broadview-six-grand-jury/14 Aug 2026 17:19 +0000at://did:plc:vrwglonkfa7hsapabfvdh4l5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mt2o4p2wvs25