Helio Castroneves, Lawyer Alan Miller Charged With Tax Evasion
 |
Castroneves Pleads Not Guilty
To Tax Evasion Charges |
IRL driver HELIO CASTRONEVES Friday pleaded not guilty to charges of "funneling his wages through a Panamanian-based company" called Seven Promotions and other foreign entities to avoid paying taxes on $5.5M he earned from '99-'04, according to Curt Cavin of the INDIANAPOLIS STAR. The 25-page indictment states that Castroneves, his sister KATI and Michigan-based attorney ALAN MILLER "testified falsely" on a '04 civil case regarding their involvement with Seven Promotions. Penske Racing Owner ROGER PENSKE, who owns the IRL team Castroneves drives for, said, "Obviously, I'm disappointed to hear of his situation. He's been a very loyal driver and really developed for us. Unfortunately, the advice he got was not proper in setting up his offshore companies." While race car drivers "generally have language in their contracts that allow for termination when laws are broken," Penske "declined to predict Castroneves' future." Penske: "It's not fair to discuss what our options are. We need to understand (the charges). ... We need to let this play out" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 10/4). In Miami, Jay Weaver reported Kati Castroneves and Miller "did not enter pleas but were released on bonds of $2[M] and $250,000, respectively" (MIAMI HERALD, 10/4).
TIRE BURN: SI.com's Bruce Martin wrote NASCAR and IRL drivers are "keeping a close eye on the Helio Castroneves/Alan Miller tax evasion case, some because Miller is also their agent and others because Team Penske could be in need of a new driver as early as late October." Miller is "involved with some of the top drivers in Sprint Cup," including JIMMIE JOHNSON, CLINT BOWYER and CASEY MEARS. NASCAR driver JEFF GORDON said, "No. 1, a driver shouldn't have an agent. That is your first mistake. Agents do nothing but get you in trouble" (SI.com, 10/3). Gordon added, "To me, you're ultimately responsible about where it goes, how it gets there and what happens. If it sounds too good to be true, it is. That's the bottom line, and that's just common sense" (MIAMI HERALD, 10/5). Johnson said the charges against Miller were "certainly shocking." Johnson: "Alan has been my attorney since I was 15 years old. He's been a great friend and has helped me with a lot of different things" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 10/4).
|
