Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana, the dynamic duo of fashion design, were condemned for tax evasion of 18 months of prison by a Milan Court of Appeals on Wednesday, April 30, 2014. This is a reduction from the original sentence of 20 months, given at their first trial last year. The appeal done by their lawyers had requested a total dismissal of the original conviction for tax evasion, but their demand was denied, although the sentence reduced.
The two designers, known worldwide for their brand Dolce & Gabbana, which produced high-end fashion products and perfumes, were found guilty of tax evasion on an amount of more than 1 Billion Euros through their Luxembourg company GADO. Their legal representatives declared that GADO was only a “legal operation” and no tax was ever evaded.
The designers have the right to file another appeal to the Italian Supreme Court (Cassazione), and their incarceration will not occur until all appeals are exhausted, since theirs is a non-violent crime.
