Brazilian race car driver and “Dancing With The Stars” champ Helio Castroneves was acquitted Friday of most charges that he worked with his sister and lawyer to evade more than $2.3 million in U.S. income taxes.
A federal jury in Miami acquitted Castroneves, 33, on six counts of tax evasion but was hung on one count of conspiracy.
The jury also acquitted Katiucia Castroneves, her brother’s business manager, on the tax-evasion counts but also hung on the conspiracy charge. Michigan motorsports attorney Alan Miller, 71, was acquitted on all counts against him. Detroit Free Press
When the sentence was read, Castroneves broke into sobs and leaned against his attorneys for support.
“I just want to thank God and my fans, and all of the people who prayed for me,” he said outside the courtroom in his native Portuguese, still fingering a rosary. Indystar
Will Power has been Castroneves’ temporary replacement. He will drive a third Penske entry in Sunday’s race and will race for the team next month in the Indy 500. Cindric would not elaborate on Power’s future beyond Indianapolis.
“I’m very happy for Helio and his family,” Power said. “I’ve been aware that this could happen at any time. I just wanted to take it day by day and do the best job for the team. I was ready for it, so it was no big shock to me.”
Castroneves’ team and Indy Racing League officials were overjoyed to learn one of the series’ most popular drivers, and the winner of “Dancing with the Stars” in 2007, would be returning.
“On behalf of Roger and the entire organization, we’re ecstatic with the outcome (of the trial),” Cindric said during a news conference. “It’s been a very difficult time for all of us, obviously in particular he and his family. We’re very, very happy to know that he can go on with his life, business as usual.” The Associated Press
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