MIAMI (Ticker) -- Helio Castroneves will stand trial in March in
a 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.
Castroneves, a two-time winner of the Indianapolis 500, pleaded
innocent on October 3 to allegations that he failed to report
millions of dollars in income to the Internal Revenue Service.
The 33-year-old is free on $10 million bail.
The famed Brazilian driver was indicted 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.
Each count carries a maximum five-year prison sentence.
Also indicted were Castroneves' sister and business manager,
Katiucia, and attorney Alan R. Miller.
According to the indictment, the the trio used an offshore
corporation set up in Panama to pull off the tax evasion scheme.
Castroneves won the Indianapolis 500 in 2001 and 2002, becoming
the fifth driver to achieve the feat in consecutive years. He
finished second to Team Penske teammate and countryman Gil de
Ferran in 2003.
Castroneves gained American fame last year after winning the
fifth season of ABC's reality television show "Dancing with the
Stars" with partner Julianne Hough.