Helio Handcuffed And Shackled In IRS Case

The IRS Is Not Playing!

October 3. 2008

Brazilian cutie and "Dancing With The Stars" champion, Helio Castroneves, was reportedly in tears today, as he was brought to court in Miami, handcuffed and shackled.

I was in Downtown Miami today with my mother, going into a government building. I heard a noise, looked up and saw a news helicopter stationary over the building next to it.

I’m thinking, is there some criminal loose and do we need to get into this building quickly (No, I wasn’t scared, really). Hey, this is Miami and criminals love a car chase.

Then my mother paused and said “Helio!” She was right. I later found out they were bringing him in…like he was a terrorist. Were the handcuffs and shackles really necessary for this type of case?

Helio entered a plea of not guilty. He's been indicted on "six counts of tax evasion" and each "carries a maximum five-year prison sentence." You do the math.

Handcuffed and shackled, Castroneves pleads innocent to tax evasion

MIAMI (AFP) — Brazilian racing driver Helio Castroneves, a two-time winner of the Indianapolis 500, on Friday pleaded not guilty to charges he failed to report millions of dollars in income to US tax authorities.

The 33-year-old driver, who was brought into federal court in Miami in handcuffs and leg shackles, was later released on 10 million dollars bail...

Castroneves was indicted on Thursday on charges of conspiracy and six counts of tax evasion for purportedly failing to report to the Internal Revenue Service 5.5 million dollars in income between 1999 and 2004, according to court documents.

Each count carries a maximum five-year prison sentence.

Also indicted were Castroneves' sister and business manager, Katiucia, and attorney Alan R. Miller. They also appeared in court Friday.

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