MIAMI, April 6 (UPI) -- Prosecutors in Miami allege auto racing champion Helio Castroneves is a tax cheat who owes the U.S. government $2.3 million.
Castroneves, 33, a winner of the Indy 500, faces up to 10 years in prison if he is convicted of conspiring to evade taxes on $5.5 million in income between 1999 and 2004, The Miami Herald reported Monday.
The driver's trial could go to the jury this week, court officials said.
Facing the same charges at the trial are his sister and manager, Katiucia Castroneves, 35, and his lawyer, Alan R. Miller, 71, the Herald reported.
Castroneves, formerly of Brazil and a U.S. resident since 1997, allegedly failed to pay taxes on a $5 million marketing deal with Penske Racing and $530,000 in income he received from a Brazilian sponsor, testified Joann Levitt, an agent for the Internal Revenue Service.
The racer also allegedly took large expense deductions for his father, Helio Castroneves Sr., who may testify for the defense, the Herald reported.
Castroneves, his sister and his lawyer have maintained all of his financial transactions were reported to the IRS and that taxes were paid when they were owed. Their trial began in March.
