A Missoula businessman has pleaded guilty to federal charges after he allegedly defrauded marijuana dispensary companies of more than $800,000 that was supposed to be used to pay their taxes.
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Bill Clawson, 54, pleaded guilty Thursday to one count of wire fraud and one count of obstructing internal revenue laws, according to federal court records. He faces a maximum 25 years in prison and $500,000 in fines for the two charges, although a plea deal with federal prosecutors will lower his sentencing guideline offense level in exchange for his guilty pleas.
Clawson was the owner of Quantum Business Solutions and Endeavor Financial Insights, two companies that provided tax assessment and payment services, according to court documents filed by federal prosecutors last month. He operated the businesses from at least 2016 through 2021.
“Instead of providing this service as promised, Clawson only paid small portions of the taxes his clients owed and used the remainder of the funds on his personal expenses and unrelated debts,” the government’s offer of proof states. “Through Clawson’s actions, his clients unknowingly fell behind in paying the taxes they owed.”
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In one instance, the Higher Standard, which operates cannabis dispensaries throughout the state, gave him money for paying business taxes, according to documents filed by assistant U.S. Attorney for Montana Benjamin Hargrove. Clawson instead deposited the funds in his account at Clearwater Credit Union and used them for personal expenses.
Prosecutors also allege that Lionheart International, another statewide cannabis supplier, was contacted by the IRS for unpaid taxes between 2019 and 2020, according to prosecutors. The company contacted Clawson, who told Lionheart not to communicate with the IRS and that he would deal with the issue.
Clawson reportedly then told an IRS officer that the company’s cash-flow issues were causing the delay.
“This was not true,” the offer of proof states. “Clawson acted corruptly by making other false statements to the IRS Revenue Officer on Lionheart’s behalf that Clawson knew would also impede the government’s tax collection efforts. Clawson did this to conceal the fact that he had misappropriated the funds Lionheart gave him to pay its taxes.”
In total, the government alleges that Clawson owes more than $1.1 million to the Higher Standard, Lionheart, Ganja Goddess, Stokes, the U.S. Small Business Administration and the IRS.
Under the plea deal, he agrees to accept that loss amount at sentencing.
Clawson also runs a consulting company and ran a local window company, according to his public LinkedIn account.
Reached Thursday, Clawson’s defense attorney, Matthew McKeon, declined to comment on the case.
Sam Wilson is the criminal justice reporter at the Missoulian.
“}]] “Clawson only paid small portions of the taxes his clients owed and used the remainder of the funds on his personal expenses and unrelated debts,” prosecutors alleged. Read More
