A Missoula accountant has been sentenced to two years in federal prison for defrauding clients by misusing their cash payments intended for income taxes, according to U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme. William Arthur Clawson, 54, will also serve three years of supervised release following his prison term. In addition, he was ordered to pay $1,309,591 in restitution to victims and a $20,000 criminal fine.
Clawson pleaded guilty in February 2025 to wire fraud and corruptly endeavoring to obstruct and impede the administration of internal revenue laws. U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy presided over the case.
Prosecutors said that from about 2016 through 2021, Clawson operated two businesses—Quantum Business Solutions and Endeavor Financial Insights—offering accounting and tax preparation services primarily to clients in Montana, Washington, and Oklahoma who worked in the medical marijuana industry. Clients paid Clawson cash for his fees as well as funds intended for their tax obligations. Instead of remitting these payments to the IRS as promised, Clawson used only a small portion toward client taxes while diverting most of the money for personal expenses and unrelated debts. As a result, clients unknowingly fell behind on their tax payments.
Authorities further stated that between 2019 and 2020, one client came under IRS scrutiny due to unpaid taxes. When an IRS revenue officer contacted the company regarding collection efforts, Clawson advised the company not to communicate with the IRS directly and assured them he would resolve the issue. He then falsely told the IRS officer that the business was experiencing cash flow problems hindering its ability to pay taxes and made additional false statements designed to hinder government tax collection efforts—all in an attempt to conceal his misuse of client funds.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Hargrove prosecuted the case. The investigation was conducted by the IRS Criminal Investigation Division.
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