Ciprianis Fined for Tax Evasion but Bellinis Safe

Restaurateurs to pay $10M, but save crucial liquor licenses
By Will McCahill,  Newser Staff
Posted Oct 11, 2007 2:06 PM CDT
Ciprianis Fined for Tax Evasion but Bellinis Safe
Cipriani Dolci, in Manhattan.   (Cipriani)

The owners of Cipriani, the chain of upscale Italian restaurants in New York and Venice, will pay a $10 million fine after pleading guilty to tax evasion, but they won't go to jail and, at least for now, they'll keep the liquor licenses for their New York outlets. Paterfamilias Arrigo Cipriani received a three-year conditional discharge, and son Giuseppe three years' probation.

The Ciprianis aren't yet out of the woods with the New York State Liquor Authority, the New York Times reports, as the agency could still revoke licenses if it finds the convicted felons lack the "moral character" required to serve alcohol. If the authority strips them of their license, the days of $16 bellinis might be over. (More tax evasion stories.)

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