Dolce And Gabbana Jail Time For Tax Evasion- Convicted Of Actual Crime, Not Crime Of Fashion

Dolce and Gabbana jail time has been sentenced. The fashion designers Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana have been convicted of tax evasion.  They maintain their innocence, and a #freedolceandgabbana hashtag has started on Twitter.

Dolce and Gabbana were found guilty in court of failing to declare 200 million euros ($268 million) of income. They were given a twenty-month suspended jail sentence. The duo are denying the charges.

As part of the sentence, Dolce and Gabbana also must pay a penalty of 500,000 euros (about $670,000) to tax authorities.

The fashion designers were acquitted of misrepresenting income to the tune of 416 million euros (around $560 million). The statute of limitations has now expired on that charge.

This is becoming part of their denial; defense lawyer Massimo Dinoia says that because the court issued an acquittal on a charge that had expired, instead of simply allowing it to fall to the statute of limitations, "means the proof of their innocence is evident." Dolce and Gabbana have pledged to appeal in the case.

Dolce&Gabbana, the ubiquitous Milan fashion label worn by glamorous celebrities like Madonna, Kylie Minogue and Kate Moss has been plagued with scandal. The investigation began in 2008, when authorities tried to crack down on tax evasion as the financial crisis began. The case is one of the most high-profile cases to be prosecuted thus far.

A tax evasion and fraud case was thrown out two years ago. Three other defendants have been convicted in the current case, and a sixth was acquitted.

While there was no immediate comment, the designer duo tweeted their signature photo of the branch of a citrus tree seconds after the verdict was announced.

Dolce and Gabbana have continually maintained their innocence. "Everyone knows that we haven't done anything," Gabbana tweeted after the trial was ordered.