Haas pleads not guilty
By Bob Pockrass
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
WORTH CONOY / VPS /
NASCAR team owner Gene Haas pleaded not guilty to charges of tax fraud and witness intimidation Monday in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles.
Haas, who owns the Haas CNC Racing team with Nextel Cup driver Jeff Green and Busch Series driver Johnny Sauter, is accused of orchestrating a scheme, through the Haas Automation business he operates, that created approximately $50 million in bogus expenses to avoid paying more than $20 million in income taxes.
"We know this is going to be a long fight, but we feel that the government has been overzealous in pursuing this case," said Haas attorney Kenneth Barish in a statement last Friday when Haas was released on bail. "Mr. Haas looks forward to going home and going back to work running Haas Automation and his other businesses.
"But more than anything else he wants to prove that he is innocent."
The company says the tax issues revolve around a former employee and that the charges will not impact Haas' businesses.
The Haas CNC Racing team also plans to continue business as usual.
