Castroneves Tax Case Goes To Trail In March
11/11/2008 06:31
MIAMI - Race car driver Helio Castroneves will stand trial in March in Miami federal court on tax evasion charges.
U.S. District Judge Donald Graham on Monday set the March 2 trial date for Castroneves, his sister and a Michigan lawyer. Prosecutors say Castroneves and the others tried to hide US$5.5 million in income from the IRS.
Castroneves is a two-time Indianapolis 500 winner and gained more fame as the 2007 winner of TV's "Dancing With The Stars" competition. He has pleaded not guilty and is free on $10 million bail.
Monday also marked the first appearance in the case of high-powered Washington lawyer Robert Bennett, who is representing co-defendant Alan Miller. Bennett represented former U.S. president Bill Clinton in the Paula Jones scandal.
The 2009 IndyCar season is scheduled to start March 29th at Miami-Homestead. It's uncertain at this time how the trial will impact Castroneves' pre-season testing duties for Penske Racing.
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
Let’s see you dance your way out of this one, Helio.