All Charges Dismissed in 'Broadview Six' Case Amid Prosecutorial Misconduct

"Your sole goal is to do justice... That trust has been broken."
— U.S. District Judge April Perry

All federal charges against the six individuals known as the "Broadview Six" were dismissed on Thursday, June 11, 2026, after U.S. District Judge April Perry found misconduct by prosecutors during grand jury proceedings. The decision was announced in court by U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros.

Case Background

The case originated from a protest on September 26, 2025, at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention center in Broadview, Illinois. Prosecutors alleged that protesters surrounded an immigration agent's van, banged and pushed on it, scratched the word "pig" on the vehicle, and broke a rear windshield wiper. Law enforcement used teargas, pepper balls, and rubber pellets during the demonstrations.

The six defendants—Kat Abughazaleh, Michael Rabbitt, Andre Martin, Brian Straw, Cat Sharp, and Jocelyn Walsh—were initially indicted in October 2025 on felony conspiracy charges. The charges were part of a broader crackdown known as Operation Midway Blitz, related to immigration enforcement policies under the Trump administration.

Charges and Dismissals

Two defendants, Cat Sharp and Jocelyn Walsh, had charges dropped in March 2026. The felony conspiracy charge against the remaining four defendants was dismissed in April 2026. On Thursday, U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros dismissed the remaining federal misdemeanor counts against Abughazaleh, Rabbitt, Martin, and Straw.

The charges were dismissed with prejudice, meaning they cannot be refiled.

Grand Jury Misconduct Findings

Judge Perry reviewed unredacted grand jury transcripts and reported findings of prosecutorial misconduct. According to the judge's statements, the misconduct included:

• A prosecutor meeting with a grand juror outside formal proceedings
• Grand jurors who disagreed with the case being dismissed and prevented from participating
• Prosecutors vouching for evidence inappropriately
• Ex-parte communications
• Redactions made to grand jury transcripts that, in the judge's assessment, concealed the misconduct

Judge Perry stated she was "incredibly shocked" by the redactions and described the behavior as unprecedented in her experience.

Statements from Officials

U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros apologized to the court and stated he had not seen conduct like that before. He said no one acted with intent to mislead the court and that prosecutors were following the judge's order.

Boutros also stated that while charges were dropped, the protesters' conduct was "unacceptable in a civilized society."

Judge Perry responded that Boutros was "significantly undercutting your mea culpa here by standing behind the charges and continuing to vilify these particular defendants."

Court Proceedings

The hearing regarding the grand jury transcripts was closed to the public to maintain grand jury material confidentiality. The judge denied a media motion to open the proceedings.

Potential Sanctions and Next Steps

Judge Perry stated she will hold a hearing regarding possible sanctions against the U.S. attorney's office, with the timing to be determined separately.

Defense attorneys have indicated plans to seek reimbursement of legal fees and may file claims with the Department of Justice's anti-weaponization fund. An attorney for defendant Brian Straw filed an emergency motion to preserve emails and texts from the U.S. attorney's office.

Related Cases

• Illinois state police are investigating the death of Silverio Villegas Gonzalez, who was shot by an ICE agent in Franklin Park, Illinois.

• On November 20, 2025, the Chicago U.S. attorney's office dropped charges against Marimar Martinez, a U.S. citizen and Montessori schoolteacher, who had been indicted for impeding a federal officer with a deadly weapon after being shot by a border patrol agent.

• In January 2026, a Chicago jury acquitted Juan Espinoza Martinez of plotting to kill a border patrol official.

Of 33 people charged in cases related to Operation Midway Blitz, 24 have been cleared.