An Italian wine firm boss behind a £45 million tax scam is the target of an international manhunt.
Livio Mazzarello, 56, avoided paying tax by selling thousands of cases of fine wines “under the counter” for cash.
He was the sole shareholder at the Italian Wine Company in Neasden.
The five-year scam was rumbled when the firm’s importation records were found on a computer server in Italy in 2013.
Mazzarello, of Cricklewood, went on trial with company accountant Louisa Mbadugha, 59. He disappeared midway through, leaving a letter saying he had “gone back to Italy to see his mother”.
After an Old Bailey jury found both defendants guilty, Judge Philip Katz said a European Arrest Warrant would be issued.
“There is no record of him leaving under the name Mazzarello,” revealed prosecutor David Hughes.
Mazzarello was found guilty of fraudulent evasion of duty, fraudulent evasion of VAT and money laundering. Mbadugha, of Neasden, was convicted of fraudulent evasion of duty and fraudulent evasion of VAT.
Mr Hughes said the total loss to HM Revenue and Customs was as much as £45 million, between June 2008 and March 2013.
“The tax returns did not reflect the vast quantities of wine that were being brought into this country undeclared and then sold under the counter, with no VAT, for cash,” he added.
The firm said 9,997 six-bottle cases were delivered to its warehouse in 2008 but the true number was 287,000. This pattern was repeated in later years.
The firm provided its drivers with two sets of paperwork relating to different amounts. If stopped by Customs, the drivers would produce papers showing the lower amounts of wine, which was destined for UK stores and off-licences.
Sentencing will take place on June 30. Mbadugha was remanded in custody.
Judge Katz indicated that Mazzarello could be sentenced in his absence.
