Tax Lawyer's Blog

The criminal tax evasion trial of two time Indy 500 winner and 2007 Dancing With the Stars champion, Helio Castroneves, will not be delayed, according to a report issued by the Miami Herald today:

A federal judge in Miami has rejected requests to delay the tax evasion trial of race car driver Helio Castroneves.

U.S. District Judge Donald Graham on Friday said the March 2 trial date will stand. Lawyers for Castroneves and Penske Racing Inc. had sought a delay until November to ensure he could drive in the 2009 IndyCar Series that runs April to October.

The trial will begin on March 2, 2009.

The 33 year old Castroneves was indicted in October on conspiracy and tax-evasion charges for allegedly using offshore companies in Panama to hide over $5.5 million dollars from the IRS from 1999-2004. If found guilty, he could be sentenced to serve up to 35 years in prison.

Castroneves’ sister and business manager, Katiucia Castroneves, 35, and his lawyer Alan Miller, 71, were also indicted. The indictment claims that the three of them,

[K]nowingly tried to conceal and disguise the true and correct amount of  [Castroneves'] income.

When the indictment was handed down IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman said,

This case sends a clear message that the IRS is committed to vigorously enforcing the tax laws and stopping offshore tax evasion.

Related Tax Lawyer’ Blog posts on the issue of offshore tax havens:

U.S Indicts Swiss Executive For Foreign Bank Account Tax Evasion

Taxpayers Blame Tax Preparers for Failure to File FBAR TD F 90-22.1

Tax Court Update – October 2008 – The Limits of Tax Court Jurisdiction

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