Neways Execs Sentenced in Federal Tax Case

SALT LAKE CITY -- The owners of an international multilevel marketing company based in Salem, Utah, and one of their former corporate lawyers have been sentenced to prison in a federal tax fraud case.

Thomas E. Mower of Springville, Utah, Leslie D. Mower of Payson, Utah, and James L. Thompson of Chandler, Ariz., were sentenced Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Salt Lake City.

The Mowers founded Neways Inc. in 1987. Thomas Mower was the chief executive officer. Leslie Mower was the chief financial officer. Thompson was employed as corporate counsel for the company the fall of 1995 through the summer of 1997.

In March 2005, a federal jury convicted the Mowers and Thompson of conspiring to impede the Internal Revenue Service in the assessment and collection of income tax. The jury also convicted the Mowers of income tax evasion and Thompson of obstructing the administration of the internal revenue laws.