The owner of the largest private home in the state appeared in federal court Tuesday to face charges that he built the 39,000-square-foot spread on tax fraud.

Joseph Nocito Sr., indicted last month on conspiracy and tax evasion counts in connection with the Bell Acres mansion, entered a standard not guilty plea before U.S. Magistrate Judge Cynthia Reed Eddy.

The government estimated it will need a month to try him, and his lawyer, Phil DiLucente, said he'd need three weeks for a defense. He also asked for an extension of time to review the evidence, which is contained in 115 boxes at the IRS office Downtown.

The judge recognized that the case, which took agents years to put together, is unusually complex and granted the request.

She also allowed Mr. Nocito to remain free on a $100,000 bond and travel for business to numerous cities around the nation as approved by the U.S. probation office, although she restricted his travel for personal reasons to western Pennsylvania. He also surrendered his passport.

Mr. Nocito, who is in his mid-70s, had been under investigation for nearly a decade.

The case became public in 2015 when his secretary, Ann Harris, pleaded guilty and agreed to cooperate.

The grand jury said Mr. Nocito, the former president and CEO of Automated Health Systems in the North Hills, conspired to conceal millions of dollars in personal income from the IRS.

With the help of his former chief financial officer, the grand jury said, Mr. Nocito caused the construction of his house, valued by some real estate experts at $20 million, to be recorded as business expenses for various companies he controlled.

The former financial officer is unnamed in the indictment and has not been charged.

The case against Ms. Harris is pending.

First Published: March 6, 2018, 5:24 p.m.