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Volume 18 Number 5
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Los Fresnos Rodeo Parade
UTRGV Gives Students Another Boost
Page 2
Great start to district play by the Lady Falcons
Page 4
Poem: Chihuahuas
Page 5
Local Physicians Stress Wellness, Healthy Lifestyle to Ward off Serious Illness
The Chamber of Commerce would like you to help kick off the 2022 Los Fresnos Rodeo by participating in this year’s Los Fresnos Rodeo Parade! They are inviting all the community and businesses! The Parade this year is scheduled for February 19th, starting at the Los Fresnos Police Department at 9:30 AM. And will have a lineup time set for 8:15 in the morning. There is a $40.00 entry fee and the deadline to submit your application will be by 4 PM on Monday, February 14, 2022.
Plaques will be awarded to the First, Second, and Third place winners. They will be judged by Best Float, Best Band, Best Drill Team/Dancing/ Walking, and Best Equestrian! The winners of these will be announced during The Rodeo event at a designated time. To request a copy of the 2022 rodeo parade application or for rules, safety, or any other additional information please contact the Los Fresnos Chamber of Commerce at (956)2334488.
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IRS-Criminal Investigation’s 10 tips to help Texans avoid tax season fraud
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LOOK INSIDE Classified................. pg 3 Sports...................... pg 4 Puzzles.................... pg 5 Activity Page........... pg 6
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2 • February 2, 2022 • LOS FRESNOS NEWS
UTRGV Gives Students Another Boost
New vaccine incentive offers $100 to students this spring Portal with their booster/ third dose status and updated vaccine card. For students, including Accelerated Online Program and online students, who already are boosted and enrolled this spring, all they have to do is update their Vaccine Portal and submit their updated vaccine card.
RIO GRANDE VALLEY, TEXAS – JAN. 21, 2022 – UTRGV Spring 2022 students who have received the COVID-19 vaccine booster/third dose are eligible to receive $100 through a new vaccine
incentive. As part of UTRGV’s efforts to keep its campuses safe as it returns to normal operations this spring, the university is using federal Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds (HEERF) to incentivize students to update their UTRGV Vaccine Portal.
“This is our way of thanking our Vaqueros for doing their part in preventing the spread of COVID-19,” said UTRGV President Guy Bailey. “We know how much everyone wants to get back to campus, and we want everyone to be safe and healthy as we do that.”
The financial assistance initiative also was offered during the Fall 2021 semester. To qualify to receive the funds, students must: Be boosted by April 8, 2022. Be enrolled for the spring semester. Update the Vaccine
WHERE TO GET COVID-19 BOOSTER? UTRGV students looking to get their booster/ third dose can do so by appointment at the UT Health RGV Student Health locations: UT Health RGV Student Health (Edinburg): 613 N. Sugar Road, Edinburg; Phone: (956) 665-2511 UT Health RGV Student
(StatePoint) Agriculture contributes about 17 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions worldwide, according to the United Nations. And while the sector is a key contributor to climate change, it is also vulnerable to its effects -with climate-related impacts such as droughts, flooding and longer fire seasons posing increasingly serious challenges to farmers and ranchers around the world. The good news is there is a fast-growing sustainable agriculture movement, and it’s continuing to accelerate as the need becomes more urgent. Here are a few examples of new technologies and
practices that agricultural entrepreneurs are developing to adapt to the challenges of climate change and become part of the solution. 1. California-based TerViva is commercializing a climate-resilient legume that can withstand harsh weather conditions. Its protein- and oil-rich seeds are a sustainable alternative to palm and soy. 2. Missouri’s Pluton Biosciences is developing a microbial product that can be applied at planting and harvest to scrub nearly two tons of carbon from the air per acre of farmland per year, while replenishing nutrients in the soil. 3. Indoor agriculture is
an emerging solution that addresses the challenges of weather, pests, and limitations in space and water, but it also requires significant energy to supply light in place of the sun. Colorado startup SunPath addresses this problem by using fiber optic indoor lighting, delivering actual sunlight deep inside buildings. And Pennsylvania-based GrowFlux’s intelligent lighting systems provides 20-30% energy savings when used for indoor horticulture. 4. Nitrous oxide is a greenhouse gas released from agriculture fields that is nearly 300 times more potent than carbon
dioxide, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Tennessee-based startup mobius is developing the next generation of biodegradable plastics made from a byproduct of the agriculture and forestry industries that can be used to deliver nitrogen for plants in a controlled manner and in place of fossil-fuel based fertilizers, improving soil quality, minimizing harmful nitrogen runoff, and significantly reducing emissions. Experts point out that the need for such solutions is urgent, and so is the support that will allow these emerging technologies to succeed.
“Accelerating climatetechnology innovation is essential if we are to avoid the worst impacts of climate change,” said Trish Cozart, director of the Wells Fargo Innovation Incubator (IN2), a technology incubator that connects ag-tech startups to experts and facilities at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center. “In order for new technologies to make a true impact, they need to prove to investors that these products are truly capable of delivering what they promise. Through IN2, startups get the support they need to validate their technologies, including
(Illustration by UTRGV Creative Services) By News and Media Relations
Health (Brownsville): Cortez Hall, Suite 237, Brownsville; Phone: (956) 882-3896 In addition, UT Health RGV is planning to hold pop-up booster events in the future. A student who is unable to get a booster/third dose at the Student Health locations can make an appointment online at any UT Health RGV location by visiting: www.utrgv.edu/ commitment/vaccine/, or go to any public, designated location, like a pharmacy, local health department or primary care clinical sites. For university updates, daily self-screening questions and campus protocols, visit www.utrgv. edu/commitment/.
4 New Ways Agriculture is Fighting Climate Change
access to a network of onfarm sites to test products and solutions in a real-world setting.” “The finance sector is increasingly seeing sustainable investment as both a responsibility and an opportunity,” said Wells Fargo’s Agribusiness Division executive, Jacquie Fredericks. “The importance of the agriculture sector to our livelihood cannot be understated, and we’re encouraged by this new wave of climate-smart technologies focused on securing our access to food and raw materials, while making meaningful contributions to the fight against climate change.”
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In the County Court at Law IV of Cameron County, Texas To: UNKNOWN HEIRS, IF ANY OF
LOG HOMES
TEDDY NENDER TATUM, Deceased, GREETINGS:
PAY ONLY THE BALANCE OWED!
You are commanded to appear and answer to the APPLICATION TO DETERMINE HEIRSHIP, filed by DARIS VICTORIA REYES GALEANO, at or before 10 o’clock A.M. of the first Monday after the expiration of 10 days from the date of service of this citation, before the Honorable County Court at Law IV of Cameron County, at the Courthouse in Brownsville, Texas, Said APPLICATION TO DETERMINE HEIRSHIP was filed on November 09, 2021.
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IN THE ESTATE OF TEDDY NENDER TATUM, DECEASED
The nature of said proceeding being substantially as follows, to wit: Determine who the heirs and only heirs of decedent are and their respective shares and interests in this estate; that no appraisers be appointed; and for all other relief to which applicant may be entitled. Issued on this the 12th day of January, 2022. Given under my hand and seal of said Court at Office in the City of Brownsville, Texas on this the 12th day of January, 2022. Sylvia Garza-Perez, Clerk Cameron County, Texas.
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Texas Press Statewide Classified Network 221 Participating Texas Newspapers • Regional Ads Start At $250 • Email ads@texaspress.com NOTICE: While most advertisers are reputable, we cannot guarantee products or services advertised. We urge readers to use caution and when in doubt, contact the Texas Attorney General at 800-621-0508 or the Federal Trade Commission at 877-FTC-HELP. The FTC web site is www.ftc.gov/bizop.
Notice is hereby given that original Letters Testamentary for the Estate of Julio Felix Torres, Deceased, were issued on January 10, 2021, in Cause No. 2021-CPC-00359, pending in County Court at Law Number 4, Cameron County, Texas, to: Christopher Menendez, a/k/a Cristobal Menendez. All persons having claims against this Estate which is currently being administered are required to present them to the undersigned within the time and in the manner prescribed by law. DATED the 20th day of January, 2022. ________________________________ CHRISTOPHER MENENDEZ, Independent Executor c/o Francisco J. Zabarte 990 Marine Drive Brownsville, Texas 78521
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4 • February 2, 2022 • LOS FRESNOS NEWS
Lady Falcons start off round two of 32-6A Play with key wins By Ruben Rodriguez Los Fresnos News
Los Fresnos has kicked off the second half of 32-6A Play on a high note, already racking up three straight wins. With the playoffs right around the corner, every win is crucial for the Lady Falcons. Los Fresnos entered the second half of District 32-6A Play with a record of 4-3 suffering losses to San Benito, Weslaco and
Harlingen South. The Lady Falcons kicked off round two with a win at home against San Benito 42-37 to split the season series. A close knit battle in which both teams played with great offense and defense. The Lady Falcons managed to hold off the Lady Hounds attack to win by just 5 points. The First time Los Fresnos faced off against San Benito this season was December 14, where The Lady Hounds
knocked off the Lady Falcons 51-43. Los Fresnos then faced off against Donna North and took control from the start to get a big win of 49-4, sweeping the Lady Chiefs. Los Fresnos defeated Donna North in their first meeting on December 17, 69-9 at home. Los Fresnos then faced off against Rivera on Tuesday Night to defeat the Lady Raiders 62 to 28. Another sweep as the Lady Falcons
defeated Rivera in their first matchup on New Year’s Eve 56-20. So what is next for Coach Lucio’s Ballclub? The Lady Falcons will travel to Weslaco to take on the Lady Panthers to try to split the season series after suffering their second district loss in their first meeting 71-59 on January 4th. After, Los Fresnos will return Home where they will face off against Harlingen in an
attempt to capture their third sweep of the season after defeating the Lady Cardinals in an overtime thriller on January 7, 67-64. Los Fresnos will continue to be at home as they host Hanna, who they defeated on January 11 49-33. Lasty, The Lady Falcons will travel to Harlingen South to take on the Lady Hawks in the Regular Season finale. Los Fresnos also looks to avenge their loss against Harlingen South from
January 14, 41-34. Sitting at 7-3 in District 32-6A Play, The Lady Falcons window of opportunity to punch their ticket to the postseason is wide open. With a stellar lineup consisting of Sarahi Jones, Maritza Ortega, Gaby Garrido, Aylene Ortega, Olivia Parra and Shiloh Jones, The Lady Falcons certainly have the firepower to make a playoff appearance and possibly a deep playoff run.
Great start to district Los Fresnos Soccer play by the Lady Falcons Kicks off District Play
on a high note
By Ruben Rodriguez Los Fresnos News
The Los Fresnos Falcons Soccer team kicked off 326A play on the road against theSan Benito Greyhounds on a chilly Tuesday Night. Last Season, the Falcons swept the season series with San Benito, winning February 1st 3-1, then on March 8th 6-0. San Benito was looking for their First home win against Los Fresnos Soccer on March 10, 2020, in which the Greyhounds won 3-1. From the Start, both teams played consistent defense as both teams looked to one up each other on offense. An exhilarating first half ended in a 1-1 draw as both teams were evenly matched throughout
Great start to district play by the Lady Falcons Twitter
vv
the night. Heading into the second half, defense continued to be a key factor as both teams struggled to put one into the net. The Falcons played a strong offense and scored the first goal of the second half which would ultimately decide the game. Los Fresnos defeated San Benito 2-1 on the road to kick off District 32-6A Play. So what's on tap for the Falcons in their District Schedule? Los Fresnos will play San Benito again on February 18 to kick off round two of District Play. Los Fresnos will next face off Donna North on January 28 and on February 22. Los Fresnos will then take on Rivera on February 1st then on the 25th. The Weslaco
Panthers will come to town on February 4th before the Falcons travel to face off against Weslaco on March 1st. Los Fresnos then will take on Harlingen on February 8th then March 4th. The Falcons then travel to Hanna on February 11 before hosting the Golden Eagles in round two on March 8. Lastly, Harlingen South comes to town February 15, then will host the Falcons in the regular season finale on March 11. Last season the Falcons finished as the 32-6A District Champion finishing with a 12-1 record in district play. With one win under their belt, the Falcons are on the right track and are a favorite to repeat as 32-6A District Champions in 2022.
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February 2, 2022 • LOS FRESNOS NEWS • 5
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The Next Chapter Poem Chihuahuas Small and furry! Tiny yet dirty. A friend for life yet brings you strife. May be nice but looks like mice. I still don’t know if she has mites. But still, we love them, they are our gems, and keeping us company through thick and thin. They are our pups throughout the bumps. My dog is the best above all the rest! Poem by Selene Olguin 12 years old
Want your story in the paper? This story continues next week. The Next Chapter is a column featuring a serialized continuing short story from a local author. You can submit your own original story for publication at our Facebook Page.
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THEME: SUPER BOWL ACROSS 1. Shout from a ship? 5. Shout from the bleachers 8. ____ and don’ts 11. Infamous Henry’s number 12. One with COVID, e.g. 13. Fighter jet button 15. Resting stops
16. Not guilty, e.g. 17. One of Singapore’s official languages 18. *Home of last year’s Super Bowl winners 20. Armor chest plate 21. *Given name of 2011 Super Bowl MVP 22. African grazer 23. Greek woodland deities 26. Ramones’ hit “I Wanna Be ____”
30. Big fuss 31. Like certain Chili Peppers (2 words) 34. Cattle call goal 35. Scatterbrained 37. Bonehead 38. In a different direction 39. Jeté in ballet 40. More so than eggy 42. Conducted 43. Christmas firewood (2 words)
45. Annotator and commentator 47. Soda-pop container 48. Unpleasant and offensive 50. SWAT attack, e.g. 52. *Super Bowl I and II winning coach 55. Pertaining to a pope 56. Cain’s unfortunate brother 57. Gives a hand 59. Anoint 60. Bébé’s mother 61. Season to be jolly 62. *Most Super Bowl wins by one team 63. Snoop 64. Carhop’s load DOWN 1. *Roman number of this year’s Super Bowl 2. “___ Misbehavin’” 3. Santa Maria’s traveling partner 4. Despair in the face of obstacles 5. “The Hobbit” hobbit 6. “Caribbean Queen” singer 7. Colloquial approval 8. Cold cuts counter 9. South American tubers 10. Pig’s digs 12. Not dense 13. Make corrections 14. *Florida team with no Super Bowl appearances 19. Return punch 22. Come and ____ it 23. Lamentably 24. Bye, to Edith Piaf 25. Bottom line 26. *2022 Super Bowl stadium 27. Upholstery choice 28. *Archie to Super Bowl MVPs Peyton and Eli 29. Exploits 32. *Super Bowl Halftime show Snoops’s “last name” 33. Hardly a beauty 36. *Like some teams 38. Oenophile’s concern 40. Many, many moons 41. Empower 44. Big Dipper’s visible shape 46. Oppressive ruler 48. On the wagon 49. Nail salon board 50. Feminine of raja 51. Mt. Everest to Earth 52. Aladdin’s light 53. Christian of fashion 54. Result of a brainstorm 55. Rudolf Nureyev’s step 58. Stallone’s nickname
6 • February 2, 2022 • LOS FRESNOS NEWS
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February 2, 2022 • LOS FRESNOS NEWS • 7
Researcher at UTRGV Investigating Connection Between Diabetes, COVID-19 and Tuberculosis
Dr. Blanca Restrepo, whose research centers around TB in South Texas-Mexico border communities, says she and her team have observed that COVID-19 patients in South Texas with an underlying disease like diabetes are at risk of developing tuberculosis that may have been latent in the body at the time of coronavirus infection. ‘We’re trying to understand how the pandemic is going to affect tuberculosis control,’ said Restrepo, who has a crossappointment as an adjunct associate professor of Epidemiology at the UTRGV School of Medicine, its South Texas Diabetes and Obesity Institute, and primary appointment at the UT Health Science Center at Houston’s School of Public Health in Brownsville. (UTRGV Photo by David Pike)
By Karen Villarreal RIO GRANDE VALLEY, TEXAS – JAN. 19, 2022 – At UTRGV, Dr. Blanca I. Restrepo, Ph.D., is researching how tuberculosis in South Texas and adjacent border communities – where the disease itself and underlying conditions like diabetes are endemic – are complicated by COVID-19. Both COVID-19 and tuberculosis (TB) are infectious diseases that target the lungs, so healthcare personnel for TB essentially have had to act as first responders for their COVID-19
patients throughout the pandemic. “We’re fairly early in trying to understand how the pandemic is going to impact tuberculosis control,” said Restrepo, who has a cross-appointment as an adjunct associate professor of Epidemiology for the UTRGV School of Medicine, its South Texas Diabetes and Obesity Institute, and has primary affiliation with the UT Health Science Center at Houston’s School of Public Health in Brownsville. “The initial predictions are that we’re moving back in TB control by about eight years,” she
said. Recent literature has addressed how the pandemic likely will increase the number of TB cases and deaths due to a strain on TB control programs, Restrepo said, but she and her research team additionally have observed the biological impact of COVID-19 on patients with diabetes. “This definitely warrants continued investigation,” she said. Throughout the pandemic, she and her collaborators published their findings – a case series of patients with a chronic history of poorly controlled diabetes who experience an acute COVID
episode, followed by the development of active pulmonary TB, a more chronic pulmonary infection. The team hypothesizes that these individuals had been infected with the bug causing TB for some time, but a chronic history of diabetes combined with a recent COVID-19 episode triggered its transition from a latent, or “sleeping,” state to a reactivated mode that causes active TB. Restrepo believes it to be a consequence of compromised immunity due to the COVID-19 episode, plus poorly controlled diabetes. “There’s nothing reported like it,” said Restrepo, who ranks among the top two percent of most-cited scientists worldwide. “We’re following up, and if the data looks promising, we will prepare a grant for further study of the biological synergism between TB, diabetes and SARS-CoV2 infection.” TB CONTROL TB is more prevalent in developing countries, and Mycobacterium tuberculosis is the microbial pathogen most responsible for deaths worldwide, with 1.4 million people dying of TB in 2019 alone. “In the United States, we have done a very good job of controlling TB, but we have pockets of populations that are
still at higher risk,” Restrepo said. “The Texas-Mexico border is one of those regions.” Someone born in Mexico or another country where TB is highly endemic may carry the bug latently, meaning the disease is not active and the individual shows no symptoms. “It’s good for everybody to know whether they’re positive for TB, but your physician won’t recommend tests if there’s no criterion for doing so,” she said. Her team has been studying diabetes as a risk factor for developing TB. Her findings suggest that TB testing for diabetic patients in the Valley who have had a recent episode of COVID-19 may be beneficial to beware of TB risk– especially those with a history of exposure to a TB patient, or who come from a TBendemic country. “Our findings suggest that if you develop COVID-19, you’re now at high risk for reactivation of a latent TB infection to active disease,” she said. “In this case, particularly if you have diabetes, it would be wise to be tested for it. You may be able to stop the progression to tuberculosis.” COVID-19 OBSERVATIONS Restrepo and her collaborators observed that many patients at the
TB clinics had all the signs and symptoms of COVID-19, including fever, malaise, loss of smell and taste, and a dry cough. “All symptoms disappeared three to six months later – except the cough, which transitions to a productive cough. Patients started losing weight, having chronic fever and night sweats,” she said. “These patients were coming down with TB, but it is likely their diagnosis was delayed because they were thinking these symptoms were due to COVID-19.” The research team also observed that patients who reported a COVID-19 infection three to six months before being diagnosed with TB also had a chronic history of poorly controlled diabetes. Their hypothesis is that if diabetes is not well controlled, and a person develops COVID-19, both conditions will synergize to compromise the person’s immune system – and that seems to be the turning point for TB development. “The body cannot contain that latent bacterial infection and it progresses to TB,” Restrepo said. “The world is collecting data on this, and we’re trying to understand that interaction at the biological level between these two pulmonary pathogens.”
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8 • February 2, 2022 • LOS FRESNOS NEWS
Local Physicians Stress Wellness, Healthy Lifestyle to Ward off Serious Illness
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HARLINGEN – As communities throughout the Rio Grande Valley continue to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic, local physicians are encouraging residents to take stock of their personal health and take steps to live a healthier lifestyle. Dr. Christopher Romero, Internal Medicine specialist, said that the Rio Grande Valley has been hit especially hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. “Our Rio Grande Valley has been so heavily impacted by COVID-19 throughout the last two years, and it has been heartbreaking. So many of us are still mourning the loss of family, loved ones, and colleagues to this pandemic,” he said. “Cameron and Hidalgo County were in the top
10 counties in Texas as far as mortality is concerned regarding COVID-19. The sad truth is that this pandemic has brought to light health issues that have been impacting our community for decades, and the rates of obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and chronic illness has made our population more vulnerable to this horrific disease.” Dr. Jamil Madi, a critical care physician and Medical Director of Valley BaptistHarlingen’s Intensive Care Unit, said the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has made abundantly clear the link between chronic health issues and the risk of serious illness or even death associated with infections such as COVID-19 or influenza. “The patients we’ve
seen in our hospitals who are often the sickest with COVID-19 are usually those who have co-morbidities — the most common one being obesity. When you add other common co-morbidities such as hypertension, lung disease, diabetes, and others, it compounds on itself and causes a very serious health situation,” he said. “While age can be a determining factor, we’re seeing these comorbidities across the full spectrum of ages. These co-morbidities suppress the immune system, making it much more difficult for the body to fight serious infections, whether it’s caused by a virus, bacteria, or even cancer.” Madi said that for individuals looking to live a healthier lifestyle, there is no better time
than the present, and that even simple changes can add up to a better and healthier quality of life. “Changes to diet and exercise are the most important ones you can make, and they can start small. Exercise could include something like just walking 30 minutes a day. Anything beyond not sitting on a couch is activity and it can make a difference,” he said. “In terms of diet, it’s best to just get anything that’s considered an unhealthy snack out of your pantry and out of your house. Try to eat at home instead of going out every day, and don’t forget to hydrate yourself well. Anything you do for three weeks becomes a habit, and a habit will ultimately become a lifestyle.” Romero said that local residents looking to embrace healthy change for 2022 shouldn’t be discouraged by starting their fitness journey slowly. “The good news is that for the most part, many of the issues I referenced are modifiable – they can be changed, they can be improved,” he said. “We can all work to address some of these chronic issues that we've been facing for a long time and work to make 2022 our best year.” Both Romero and Madi said that in addition to discussing any lifestyle changes with your physician, it is important to approach change with longevity in mind, and both agreed that the path to finding success in lifestyle changes is one of a marathon, not a
sprint. Here are some tips for success: • Find your why. Look deep inside, maybe even talk with your family about what is that thing that really motivates you to want to make the change this year and make that change stick. Whether it's being there for your grandkids being able to be more active in your community, or just feeling good when you wake up in the morning. You have to find that thing that's going to get you over those rough days where you don't want to eat well, where you don't want to exercise, but you're going to do the right thing anyway. • Set a goal. If you don't have something you're working toward, it's going to be hard to reach it. Those goals could include signing up for a race or picking a date that you want to have a specific health or wellness goal achieved by. Having those benchmarks will help you actually get there and sustain that change that you're going to be able to enact this year. • Talk with your doctor about the health changes you're planning on making, whether it's embarking on a new diet or starting a new exercise routine. It's important to have that partnership with your physician. First, they're going to be excited for you and they're going to be motivating you as well. Second, they’re going to be able to guide you to see if there are
things they need to watch out for or if you have pitfalls to avoid as you make 2022 your best and healthiest year. • Make a plan. It's going to take hard work, but it's also going to take some organization. There are a lot of amazing resources available online. It's important to actually set up a plan ranging from what you’re eating the next few days to what exercise activities you’re going to participate in. • Let your friends and families know your goals, your vision, and what you're planning on achieving. You will be pleasantly surprised about how much motivation you will get from them, and they’re going to be your cheerleaders. They’ll work with you and help hold you accountable in a great way to do the right thing to make those positive changes in your life. Madi said it’s important to remember that lifestyle adjustments in the present can set the stage for a healthier future. “The changes you make today are positive results you’ll see tomorrow. It’s never too late to make changes to your lifestyle with exercise and diet,” he said. “It can make all the difference in the world and you can even reverse some of your illnesses, including hypertension, vascular disease, and diabetes. Simple changes can transform your quality and quantity of life tremendously.”
Make sure you receive your refund. Your refund should be deposited into your bank account, not your tax preparer’s. The IRS will not call you threatening legal action. If you receive a call like this, hang up. Don’t respond to text messages, emails or social media posts claiming to be the IRS. They may contain malware that could compromise your personal information. Don’t click links or open attachments in unsolicited emails or text messages about your tax return. These messages are fraudulent. Protect your personal and financial information. Never provide this information in response to unsolicited text messages, emails or social media posts claiming to be the IRS. Following tips like numbers 1 and 4 (choose a tax payer wisely and don’t fall victim to promises of large refunds) would
have helped tax payers avoid someone like Tiffany Phenix. Phenix pleaded guilty last April to aiding and assisting in the preparation of a false U.S. Individual Income Tax Return. She was sentenced to 15 months in prison, followed by one year of supervised release and ordered to pay $284, 826 in restitution. As part of her plea, she stipulated she prepared a total of 37 false income tax returns for clients and four false income tax returns for herself, resulting in an intended tax harm to the IRS of over $284,000. Specifically, Phenix admitted preparing a false 2015 income tax return for a taxpayer which included creating a false form W-2. She also claimed on the return false wage amounts, a false Earned Income Tax Credit and a false income tax refund. For more tips on choosing a tax professional or how to file a complaint against one, visit IRS.
gov. Taxpayers who suspect tax violations by a person or business, may report it to the IRS using Form 3949A, Information Referral. Taxpayers can report phishing emails to phishing@irs.gov or IRS impersonation scams to TIGTA.gov. This year’s tax season begins Monday, Jan. 24 and continues through Monday, April 18 for most taxpayers. U.S. taxpayers are subject to tax on worldwide income from all sources and must report all taxable income and pay taxes according to the Internal Revenue Code. Taxpayers found to be committing fraud may be subject to penalties including payment of taxes owed plus interest, fines and jail time. IRS-CI is the criminal investigative arm of the IRS, responsible for conducting financial crime investigations, and is the only federal law enforcement agents with investigative jurisdiction over violations of the
Internal Revenue Code, boasting a nearly 90 percent federal conviction rate. The IRS-CI’s Houston Field Office encompasses the U.S. District Court’s Southern and Western districts of Texas, with field office boundaries ranging from Houston to El Paso and from Waco to Laredo. Due to the proximity to the Mexican international border and having some of the fastest-growing cities and counties in the United States within its jurisdiction, Houston special agents work a variety of cases, emphasizing traditional tax-related crimes such as employment tax, corporate fraud, identity theft, unscrupulous return preparers and general fraud. The Houston Field Office also provides crucial support to task forces involving counterterrorism, public corruption, human trafficking, drugs, and complex money laundering violations.
IRS-Criminal Investigation’s 10 tips to help Texans avoid tax season fraud HOUSTON – Each year, taxpayers’ personal information is compromised through phishing scams or by unscrupulous tax preparers. With tax season kicking off Jan. 24, IRS-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) wants taxpayers to be aware of tax-related fraud. “As the law enforcement division of the IRS, we investigate all types of criminal tax and financial fraud cases and make prosecution recommendations to the Department of Justice, so we know well that proactively following the IRS’s tips will help you avoid from being defrauded or even committing tax fraud yourself,” said Houston Field Office Special Agent in Charge Ramsey Covington. “By being a little bit
more cautious this tax season, you’ll be better prepared against corrupt tax preparers and identity thieves.” Tips to avoid tax season fraud include: Choose a tax preparer wisely. Look for a preparer who is available year-round. Ask your tax preparer for their IRS Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN). All paid preparers are required to have one. Don’t use a ghost preparer. They won’t sign a tax return they prepare for you. Don’t fall victim to tax preparers’ promises of large refunds. Taxpayers must pay their fair share of taxes. Don’t sign a blank tax return. Taxpayers are ultimately responsible for what appears on tax returns filed with the IRS.