Designers Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana have been ordered to serve one year and eight months in an Italian prison today after a judge ruled them guilty of tax evasion. The designers are expected to appeal the decision.
The trial, which originally began December 3rd, follows investigations that began by the Italian Police Force in 2008. The designers were charged with tax evasion totaling USD$540 million and were initially acquitted. Prosecutors had alleged that the sole purpose in selling the Dolce & Gabbana brands to the Luxembourg-based Gado SRL in 2004 was to avoid paying taxes.
However, the Milan-based prosecutor, Laura Pedio, appealed to the Supreme Court, which issued its prison sentence today after six months of deliberation.
