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SPRINGFIELD, MO. – A lawyer from Lebanon, Missouri, pleaded guilty in federal court of tax and labor violations.
Meagan M. Howe, also known as Meagan M. Hasty, 35, pleaded guilty to US chief judge David P. Rush on Thursday, August 19, of indicting non-payment of wage tax and one misrepresentation in connection with an employee benefit plan.
Howe owns and operates Conquer the Divide, LLC. She is also the former owner and operator of the Garner and Howe law firm; Missouri Law Firm, LLC; and just ask Howe Tax Advocacy Services, LLC.
Howe admitted that in 2019 she withheld a total of $ 15,019 in federal taxes from her employees’ paychecks at Garner and Howe Law Firm and Missouri Law Firm, LLC, but did not turn them over to the IRS. Howe also admitted that she didn’t pay an additional $ 10,285 in wage tax for the companies in 2019.
Howe also admitted that she mistakenly prepared and filed 2018 tax returns for herself and her husband. Filing separate statements each claiming head of household fraudulently allowed her to obtain $ 3,775 income tax credits.
Howe also admitted that she failed to transfer $ 3,111 in contributions to an employee retirement plan. Howe then falsely reported that it had not failed to transfer contributions to her company pension scheme.
Under the terms of today’s plea agreement, Howe is required to pay compensation to the IRS, the Missouri Treasury, and individual victims.
Under federal law, Howe is sentenced to up to 10 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum legal penalty is prescribed by Congress and is included here for informational purposes, as the conviction of the accused is determined by the court based on the advisory judgment guidelines and other legal factors. A verdict hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a preliminary investigation by the United States Probation Service.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant US Attorney Casey Clark. It has been investigated by the IRS-Criminal Investigation, the Department of Labor – Employee Benefits Security Administration, and the Missouri Department of Revenue.
