Spotlight 93-250409

The Spotlight reports:

  • FBI Raids Commodore Plaza Art Gallery
  • Playhouse Demolition Preps Start

Agents remove artwork from Miami Fine Art Gallery following Spotlight report on ongoing fraud allegations against veteran dealer.

By Dave Villano

A team of FBI investigators descended upon a Coconut Grove art gallery early Wednesday morning. Witnesses say agents were seen removing works of art into two unmarked vans parked outside.

An agent at the scene confirmed that an investigation was underway but could not provide details. An FBI spokesperson did not immediately respond to the Spotlight’s request for comment. 

The gallery, Miami Fine Art Gallery, located at 3180 Commodore Plaza, was the subject of a Spotlight investigation last month into allegations of art fraud and other improprieties by veteran Coconut Grove art dealer Leslie “Les” Roberts.

The report chronicled Roberts’ past legal troubles related to his work as a gallery owner and highlighted a string of recent lawsuits alleging that Roberts sold forged artworks by well-known artists such as Andy Warhol, and in other instances failed to deliver high-priced pieces after receiving customers’ payments.

Roberts has denied the allegations.


Nearly 20 years after the playhouse closed, Miami-Dade County appears poised to move forward on its plan to save the playhouse by first demolishing a portion of the landmark building.

By Izzy Kapnick

After years of legal challenges, Miami-Dade County is moving forward with plans to demolish a portion of the Coconut Grove Playhouse and replace it with a smaller theater and commercial plaza.

City of Miami records show a flurry of activity on the demolition permit application for the playhouse over the past few weeks. Since February, the permit has received approval from zoning, public works, and historic preservation staff, among other departments.

Miami-Dade, which leases the property from the State of Florida, plans to reopen the playhouse by restoring its distinctive front building, knocking down the rear auditorium, and building a 300-seat theater with an adjacent parking garage, street-level retail shops and a pedestrian walkway.

The 1926 playhouse closed in 2006 amid financial troubles and has sat empty since.

“The demolition plans are under review by various city divisions,” Historic and Environmental Preservation (HEP) board member Denise Galvez Turros tells the Spotlight. “It still has to go back to the HEP director for final approval.”

While most of the required departments have approved the permit, city records show environmental resources and structural reviews pending.


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