Noreen & Jeanique Win a Years Supply of Bellini's

BOOZE BOSSES BLESS CIPRIANI
TAX-DODGING EATERY FAMILY UNCORKS A WIN

August 7, 2008
Susan Edelman and Leonard Greene
New York Post

Bellini lovers, rejoice. Cipriani's is still in business.

The State Liquor Authority yesterday voted to accept a record-setting $500,000 tax-evasion penalty instead of revoking booze licenses at the Italian eating empire's nine restaurants and catering halls.

The high-stakes hearing followed an admission last year by Giuseppe Cipriani and his father, Arrigo, that they used a complex scheme to evade $10 million in state and city taxes. They agreed to pay it back, and were spared jail.

The 2-1 vote spared them the prospect of shutting down their dining dynasty, which has drawn such celebrities as Jay-Z, Jennifer Lopez and Leonardo DiCaprio.

The Ciprianis could not, however, avoid the wrath of SLA chairman Daniel Boyle, a former Syracuse police chief, who opposed the settlement.

"They can't buy their way through the system, just because some people have power or influence," he said. "These are very, very serious charges. For us to sit here as a board and ignore these charges is just unbelievable."

The Ciprianis pleaded guilty to the tax-evasion charges after an investigation that also led to the conviction of an executive, Dennis Pappas, who collected disability insurance while working off the books.

The restaurant magnates continued to pay him his yearly salary of nearly $1 million while he collected an equal amount from Social Security and private insurance.

Prosecutors also linked Pappas, a disbarred lawyer, to organized crime.

SLA members Noreen Healey and Jeanique Greene, a new member who cast the deciding vote, said they were more concerned about the workers than white wine cocktails.

The loss of their liquor licenses would have jeopardized more than 1,000 jobs.

Greene also said she took into account that Cipriani's owners had no prior offenses.

After the vote, Cipriani's representatives were celebrating in the hallway.

"We are grateful that this resolution ensures that service will continue uninterrupted at Cipriani's world-class locations across New York City," the company said in a statement.

susan.edelman@nypost.com