Former Newcastle defender Franck Dumas has been sentenced, in his absence, to 3 years jail in France.
Ruud Gullit signed French defender Franck Dumas from Monaco, although he only ever played six games and lasted only a few months once Sir Bobby Robson took charge.
Franck Dumas joined Marseille and then Lens & Caen after leaving Newcastle.
Later he was manager at Caen and now the legal system has caught up with him.
News from France that earlier this month, Franck Dumas was sentenced in his absence to three years in jail for tax fraud.
The court heard Dumas described by tax inspectors as a high roller who made large cash withdrawals on spending sprees and frequented casinos.
The main charge against him is hiding 450,00 euros ($505,000, £380,000) earnings from his 2012 tax returns.
The 48-year-old was living in Equatorial Guinea as recently as August.
In total the tax authorities say Dumas owes 557,496 euros from a three-year period, and Dumas wrote to the court from Guinea in August promising to attend the trial and to settle the debt.
As a player Dumas won the French league title with Monaco.