Castroneves pleads not guilty to tax evasion
Race car driver and “Dancing With The Stars” (Yeah…pretty much the only reason you would knwo who he was…lol) winner Helio Castroneves pleaded not guilty Friday to federal tax evasion charges and declared outside the courtroom that he would treat the case like a race against the Internal Revenue Service. Kind of worse to get busted for tax evasion than having to go into drug rehab, or alcohol rehab these days I guess.
“I’m a race car driver,” the two-time Indianapolis 500 winner told reporters. “This is a very difficult situation. I’ll be strong and I’ll win this race.”
Castroneves was released on $10 million bail and spoke to the press about it.
“It’s been a long day. It’s been an emotional day, obviously,” he said. “I am not guilty.”
A grand jury on Thursday indicted Castroneves on charges of conspiracy and six counts of tax evasion for purportedly failing to report to the IRS about $5.5 million in income between 1999 and 2004, according to court documents. Each count carries a maximum five-year prison sentence.
Also facing charges are Katiucia Castroneves, the driver’s sister and business manager, and attorney Alan R. Miller of Birmingham, Mich. They did not enter pleas Friday but were ordered released on bail of $2 million and $250,000, respectively.
