Brazilian Racing Star Faces U.S. Tax Evasion Trial
Brazilian race-car driver and “Dancing with the Stars” winner Helio Castroneves faces a tax-evasion trial in March 2009 in a Miami federal courtroom.
Castroneves, 33, a two-time winner of the Indianapolis 500, pleaded not guilty in October and is free on $10 million bail.
Federal prosecutors charged the driver-turned-dancer with one count of conspiracy and six counts of tax evasion, alleging he failed to report $5.5 million in income from 1999 to 2004. Castroneves, with the help of his sister and lawyer, allegedly set up a corporation in Panama to aid in the tax-evasion scheme.
Meanwhile, Castroneves has asked for the trial to be delayed. Penske Racing, in an affidavit filed with the court, said it “will be forced, in all likelihood, to change drivers” if the trial begins in March.
If convicted, Castroneves faces up to five years in prison for each count.
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Tags: Failing to file tax return, tax evasion, tax shelters
January 15th, 2009 at 1:55 pm
[...] After all, who hasn’t read about Brazilian race-car driver and “Dancing with the Stars” winner Helio Castroneves? [...]