Chicago Nightclub Co-owner Dino Gardiakos Sentenced to Six Years for Ketamine Trafficking

Dino Gardiakos, a former co‑owner of the River North nightclub Spybar, was sentenced to six years in federal prison after pleading guilty to manufacturing and delivering a controlled substance. Prosecutors said he attempted to bring 14 pounds (approximately six kilograms) of ketamine through O’Hare International Airport on an overnight flight from London, concealing the drug in multiple containers. The case follows a prior probation violation stemming from a 2021 raid that uncovered additional narcotics and cash at his West Town home.

Judge Timothy Joyce imposed the sentence despite Gardiakos remaining free during the proceedings and not being placed on electronic monitoring. The conviction marks his second major drug‑related guilty plea, the first having resulted in probation. The sentencing underscores ongoing federal efforts to curb large‑scale drug smuggling through U.S. airports.