From Dancing Shoes to Leg Shackles

On September 27, 1997, â€-race-car driver Helio Castroneves, 22, was standing before a podium at a victory banquet at the Doubletree Hotel in Ontario, California, having just finished second in the tightest points battle in the history of Indy Lights racing. The young Brazilian thanked everyone in an emotion-charged response, finally breaking down in tears of joy and acknowledging the love of a sister.

About 11 years later, on October 3, 2008, Helio Castroneves, 33, again was at a podium, again in tears, his sister behind him. This time his legs were shackled and his hands cuffed, facing a judge to plead not guilty in Miami to charges that he, his sister, and his attorney willfully failed to pay taxes on $5.5 million in income.

Released on $10 million bond, the next day he co-drove a bright yellow Penske Racing, DHL-sponsored Porsche RS Spyder to a class victory at the 1000-mile Petit Le Mans race at Road Atlanta.

The two-time Indy 500 champion, and a 2007 winner on the smash television show Dancing with the Stars, Castroneves was the Indy Racing League’s potent No. 2 personality behind Danica Patrick. Now he faces 35 years in the slammer, back taxes of $2.17 million, penalties, interest, fines, and, not to mention, the loss of his career. And did we mention deportation?

Breaking down the charges, Castroneves is accused of evading taxes on (a) $550,000 of a personal sponsorship deal (deposited into a Panamanian corporation, with some monies diverted to another Swiss corporation) from 1999 to 2001; (b) $5 million on a “Deferred Royalty Contract" (with a company in the Netherlands) from 2000 to 2002 from his Penske Racing retainer; and (c) under-reporting his income in 2003 and 2004. More at Car & Driver