This is an update to:
After Victory At Petit Le Mans, Castroneves Looks For Permission To Race In Australia
Famed Indy car driver and celebrity dancer Helio Castroneves will be allowed to leave the country and race in Australia later this month even while he is facing federal tax-evasion charges, a federal magistrate ruled on Friday.
Prosecutors argued the two-time Indianapolis 500 winner has ample reason to run and the assets in Brazil and elsewhere to facilitate such a move. But U.S. Magistrate Judge William Turnoff said he was convinced that “the dumbest thing Mr. Castroneves could do” would be to flee to his native Brazil and not show up for court, given his lucrative racing and endorsement career based in the U.S.
“You have much to lose by not complying with conditions of release,” Turnoff said at a hearing to Castroneves, who nodded vigorously in agreement.
Castroneves, who also won the 2007 TV “Dancing with the Stars” competition, is charged with conspiracy and tax evasion for allegedly dodging U.S. taxes on about $5.5 million in income using offshore accounts. He has pleaded not guilty and is free on $10 million bail.
David Garvin, Castroneves’ lawyer, said the racer has more to lose by fleeing such as endorsements or his racing career.
Castroneves won last year’s US television “Dancing with the Stars” competition and Turnoff, in making his decision to allow Castroneves to race in Australia, said he would be “Dancing with US Marshals” should he flee.
“I’m very happy,” Castroneves said after the hearing. “I want to race. This is what I do. I’ll do my best to bring a trophy home for the judge.”
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