While federal prosecutors in Chicago press ahead with criminal charges, a Miami Beach restaurateur is quietly pouring Negronis on Collins Avenue. Leonardo, an upscale Italian dining room, opened this month and blends Old‑World decor with late‑night music and cabaret, even as the case involving one of its owners continues in federal court.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, a superseding indictment returned by a Chicago grand jury accuses seven people of running an open‑air marijuana market on the South Side. The announcement states that law enforcement seized roughly 2,000 pounds of marijuana, about 81 firearms including assault‑style rifles, approximately $425,000 in cash and jewelry valued around $300,000, and it notes that the charges carry severe prison terms. Hoodline previously covered the original federal grand jury charges last July.
Leonardo bills itself as a 4,500‑square‑foot Italian restaurant and late‑night lounge located at 2000 Collins Avenue, outfitted with chandeliers, antique mirrors and an emphasis on handmade pasta and theatrical tableside presentations. The Leonardo site lists late dinner hours and music programming, and industry coverage describes the space as a luxe, late‑night destination. Per the venue, the dining room shifts toward cabaret and live music after 10:30 p.m. on weekend nights. FSR provides menus and hours.
Indictment, court filings and alleged role
The superseding indictment in Chicago (Case No. 24‑CR‑526) names Igor Dze among six co‑defendants and alleges the group operated a marijuana market on the 1200 block of West 73rd Place, using armed security and nearby houses to store drugs and weapons. The court filing identifies Dze by name and nickname and lays out the conspiracy counts; the U.S. Attorney’s Office has posted the announcement and related documents. Reporting from the Miami Herald, which reviewed detention‑hearing filings, says prosecutors told a Miami court that Dze’s alleged role included providing supply connections in California and that officers found about 43 pounds of marijuana in a vehicle linked to him. Miami Herald.
Local restaurant roots and context
Dze is a relatively recent entrant to Miami’s dining scene; he opened the Mediterranean restaurant Amavi in Midtown Miami in July 2025 with hospitality partners, an expansion that industry outlets covered at the time. Resident and other local outlets profiled Amavi’s concept and late‑night programming. For now, openings like Leonardo land in a fast‑moving Miami market where splashy hospitality projects and serious legal dramas can coexist under the same skyline.
Legal outlook
Federal officials emphasize that an indictment is an accusation, not proof of guilt, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office notes that the counts in the superseding indictment carry penalties of up to 40 years for some defendants and potentially longer on related firearm counts. The U.S. Attorney’s Office also included forfeiture allegations in the filing. Court proceedings remain pending in Chicago as defense counsel and prosecutors prepare for the next steps.
Leonardo is open for dinner most nights and is advertising live music and late‑night cabaret, setting up a sharp contrast between Miami’s glossy hospitality scene and the unresolved federal case involving one of its owners. Patrons and industry watchers will be following how the legal process unfolds while Miami’s dining scene absorbs the arrival of another high‑profile venue. Leonardo and the Miami Herald have details on the venue and the court filings.
