Interview with the New York Times

It has been a couple weeks of the usual day-to-day doldrums.  I was snapped back into tax fraud reality today when I was contacted by Lizette Alvarez from the New York Times (she is a resident reporter based in Miami).

I completed a phone interview with her tonight, and had a very casual conversation about my situation; essentially, I recapped my experience and my thoughts on this epidemic.

The story should run in the next couple days. Let's see if the NYT captures my thoughts correctly, without embellishment or sensationalism.

See my interview on Fox 13

Interview finally aired on Fox 13.

http://www.myfoxtampabay.com/dpp/news/local/hillsborough/traffic-stops-yield-tax-fraud-arrests-04132012

Woo buddy, I need to put the cheeseburgers down after deployment!

For the record, I don't have high hopes that I'll see my return, but this type crime is so complicated and complex that our own laws that in place to protect us as taxpayers gets in the way of smooth collaboration between local and federal law enforcement.  Its unfortunate, but there's just no way our system will work through this quick enough to see my return come through in year or less.

In other news... 
12 April 2012, The Ledger: Tax Refund Finally Arrives for Widow of Slain Officer Whose Identity Was Stolen

This poor woman had to deal with this issue for TWO YEARS, in addition to the pain of losing her husband.  I'm thankful that the government was able to finally intervene and this fallen officer's family.


 Timeline Update

Interview with Fox 13

Almost forgot... yesterday afternoon I completed an interview with Ms Tanya Arja from Tampa's Fox 13. I'm still waiting on a response from my public affairs officer before submitting a photo of myself in uniform so she can release her story, however, it was nice just being able to discuss the story with a member of the media.

Hopefully other individuals will have the opportunity to have their stories heard...

The media ... a force to be reckoned with.

So, in one week's time, I have been contacted by two separate media outlets: (3/28) Scott Zamost, a Sr. Producer from CNN Atlanta, and today I received a call and email from Tanya Arja, a reporter from Fox 13.

Mr. Zamost is collecting information for the follow-on story (CNN broke the initial piece at the national level), and Ms. Arja is also developing their package from the local perspective. I will say, that I did not focus my research skills on this subject until I was a victim of tax fraud - but the local reporting on the issue has been long-term and persistent. I feel foolish for not being better informed, although there is not much you can do to protect yourself from this crime!

Either way, both media sources have their benefits. I am more inclined to stick with a local news element in order to build the nexus of victims in Tampa Bay, and allow our voices to be heard collectively with other communities nationwide.

Info updated on my timeline:
 http://www.timetoast.com/timelines/tax-fraud-resolution