Montreal Restaurateurs Face Fraud Charges, Close to $4 Million in Fines

A Revenu Québec investigation has resulted in fraud charges and close to $4 million in potential fines for supper club restaurateurs Pasquale Ruffolo, Giorgio Damiani, Giovanni Caruso, Felipe Caruso, and Pino Forgione. "The men each face a minimum fine of $796,614.80 for violations of the Tax Administration Act and the Excise Tax Act. The charges stem from alleged false tax receipts covering the period of November 1, 2008 to February 28, 2014," the Montreal Gazette reported today. While Revenu Québec has so far refused to name the restaurants or businesses linked to the case, it is no secret that the five men are/were involved in Montreal Gourmet, the company behind the likes of the infamous Cavalli, Primadonna, Med Grill, Kabana, Otto, Wood35, and Bice/Beatrice. Only the latter remains open. The men each face two counts of fraud, and will appear in court on September 12.