Admitted tax cheat Giuseppe Cipriani is back in town after nearly a year abroad and working out a deal with the feds so he won't be deported, sources told Page Six.
The dashing restaurateur -- who left Manhattan for London, Uruguay and Dubai last year after he and his dad, Arrigo, copped to tax evasion and agreed to fork over $10 million -- set tongues wagging when he waltzed in for dinner at Harry Cipriani on Fifth Avenue Tuesday night.
Because he's an Italian citizen and has admitted to tax fraud, Cipriani could face possible arrest and a permanent heave-ho from the US under federal law.
But a law-enforcement source said yesterday that Cipriani -- who mixed with boldface types including Naomi Campbell, Helena Christensen, Calvin Klein, Michael Douglas, Harvey Weinstein and Sean "P. Diddy" Combs -- is back in the country "legally, and everyone that needs to know his whereabouts has been informed."
Another source said Cipriani is "in the process of hammering out issues" with immigration and customs officials. Vanity Fair reported this year that Giuseppe and his father had been "dogged by allegations of mob connections and shady political dealings" before they left the city. But it isn't believed that any deal Giuseppe made with the feds would require him to name names.
Page Six sources said Cipriani appeared relaxed during the impromptu comeback tour of his flagship eatery, shaking hands and chatting with customers.
Earlier this year, Giuseppe claimed he was out of the country on business and was determined to return. "I can go back. I will go back," he told Vanity Fair, adding: "Usually, when you plead to something, it means that you make a deal. So we made a deal."
A rep for Cipriani said, "Giuseppe is in town for some meetings," but declined to discuss any of his legal issues. |
