COOK COUNTY, IL – A joint investigation by Sheriff’s Police, Homeland Security Investigations, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection led to felony drug charges against the owner of Chicago’s Spybar nightclub, Cook County Sheriff Thomas J. Dart announced today.
At approximately 12:37 a.m. on Wednesday, March 13, officers arrested 43-year-old Dino Gardiakos, of the 800 block of North Wood Street in Chicago, after they found he was in possession of substantial amounts of Ketamine and Ecstasy while traveling from London to the U.S. Upon his arrival at O’Hare International Airport, officers discovered six containers in his luggage of approximately 14 pounds of a white powdery substance that tested positive for Ketamine. Additionally, officers recovered a pill bottle that contained about 5.8 grams of Ecstasy. He was transported to Sheriff’s Police Headquarters for further questioning.
After being issued his Miranda Warning, Gardiakos told investigators he purchased six kilograms of Ketamine from an individual in London and that this individual told him how to conceal the drugs to smuggle it through O’Hare Customs. Gardiakos further stated that the Ketamine was for both personal use and for sale in the Chicagoland area.
At the time of his arrest, Gardiakos was on probation for felony drug offenses.
Later that day, the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office approved charges of Trafficking of a Controlled Substance, a Class X Felony, Other Amount Schedule III, a Class 3 Felony, and Possession of a Controlled Substance, a Class 4 Felony.
Gardiakos appeared today at the George N. Leighton Criminal Court Building where a judge ordered him released on pretrial adult probation services.
The public is reminded that the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty by the government in a court of law.
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