Castroneves charged with tax evasion, fraud
Last Updated: Thursday, October 2, 2008 | 7:07 PM ET
CBC Sports
Helio Castroneves was indicted Thursday in Miami for tax evasion and tax fraud. (Ben Margot/Associated Press)Two-time Indianapolis 500 winner and Dancing With The Stars champion Helio Castroneves was indicted Thursday in Miami on tax evasion and tax fraud charges.
Castroneves, who resides in Coral Gables, Fla., is alleged to have concealed $5.5 million US from the U.S. Internal Revenue Service in offshore accounts.
"The IRS is committed to vigorously enforcing the tax laws and stopping offshore tax evasion," IRS commissioner Doug Shulman said.
Castroneves is charged with conspiracy and six counts of tax evasion for purportedly failing to report said income, which he earned between 1999 and 2004 and allegedly concealed from Penske Racing Inc. and Coimex International S.A.
Each count carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.
Also charged were Katiucia Castroneves, Helio's 35-year-old sister and business manager, and Alan R. Miller, a 71-year-old lawyer from Birmingham, Mich.
Castroneves won two races this season, taking the checkered flag in the IndyCar Grand Prix of Sonoma and the season-ending Chicagoland 300.
The 33-year-old Brazilian finished second to Scott Dixon in the IndyCar Series championship this season, trailing the six-time winner by 17 points with 629.
Castroneves has won 14 times in the Indy Racing League, including the Indianapolis 500 in 2001 and 2002.
He and partner Julianne Hough were crowned Dancing With The Stars champions in 2007, the sixth instalment of the popular reality TV competition.
With files from the Associated Press
