Clawson Jailed for $1.3M Tax Fraud

MISSOULA – Local accountant William Arthur Clawson, 54, has been locked up for 24 months after swindling $1.3 million from clients who trusted him with their tax payments. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Montana, Clawson pleaded guilty to wire fraud and corruptly endeavoring to obstruct IRS laws.

Clawson, who operated Quantum Business Solutions and Endeavor Financial Insights, duped medical marijuana industry clients across Montana, Washington, and Oklahoma. He promised to handle their tax payments but instead pocketed the cash. The scheme left clients in debt as Clawson failed to pay the taxes owed on their behalf.

From 2016 to 2021, Clawson’s deceitful antics caused financial hardship for his unsuspecting clientele. In one particularly egregious case, he instructed a client to ignore IRS inquiries, lying about cash flow issues to hide his embezzlement.

Judge Donald W. Molloy oversaw the sentencing, which also included a $20,000 fine and three years of supervised release after prison. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Hargrove prosecuted the case, with the IRS Criminal Investigation Division handling the investigation.

Clawson’s fraudulent activities have been a wake-up call for tax preparers in the region. The Missoula accountant’s fall from grace serves as a stark reminder of the importance of due diligence when selecting financial services.

The gritty tale of Clawson’s downfall has left his former clients and colleagues reeling, while the U.S. Attorney’s Office heralds the sentence as a victory against white-collar crime.