MacPherson In The News

In a significant legal victory, the MacPherson Group successfully mitigated the sentence for their client, former medical doctor Joseph David Meyer, in a complex tax evasion case. Meyer, 62, from Roseau, Minnesota, faced charges for evading $484,164 in taxes from income earned as a doctor and from rental properties between 2000 and 2018. Despite the severity of the charges, the MacPherson Group's defense led to Meyer receiving a relatively lenient sentence of just four months in federal prison, followed by six months of home confinement and two years of supervised release. This outcome, especially considering the extensive duration and amount involved in the evasion, highlights the MacPherson Group's effectiveness in securing favorable results for their clients. Meyer, who had pleaded guilty to one count of tax evasion on June 29, 2022, was also ordered to pay full restitution. The case, prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordan Sing, was a result of an IRS – Criminal Investigations inquiry and was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Donovan W. Frank.

The MacPhersons with attorney Colton Boyles and former Assistant Solicitor General of the United States Prof. Richard Seamon, have filed an amici curiae brief on behalf of Idaho Lieutenant Governor Janice McGeachin, Alaska State Senator Lora Reinbold, Alaska State Representative David Eastman, Idaho State Representative Heather Scott and 62 other state senators and state representatives of the states of Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Idaho, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Washington, and West Virginia, in support of the State of Texas in its lawsuit against the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

What is with tax attorneys throwing themselves into a religious liberty Covid-19 dispute where Holy Communion gets compared with pizza delivery? According to Nathan MacPherson it is the same sensitivity to liberty and the Constitution that informs the approach to tax practice that they picked up from their dad Donald “Mac”MacPherson

"How can something that is a fundamental constitutional right not be essential?" he said. "It's just mind-blowing that a government official would make such a distinction."

Nathan MacPherson, LW’06, is proof that a degree from Drake University Law School can take you anywhere.

New data collection and analysis technologies are giving the Internal Revenue Service a powerful new weapon to ensure that people and businesses pay all of the taxes they owe. The IRS has long relied on relatively crude analytical tools to match the Social Security numbers and addresses on files tax returns against information printed on W2, 1099, and other income-reporting documents supplied by employers, financial institutions, and other parties.

Arizona has over 17,500 practicing attorneys, of whom only 1% are certified specialists in either tax law or criminal law. Mac MacPherson is the only attorney in the country who is a certified specialist in both tax law & criminal law.

Craig Steven Voyton, owner of Smart Grass LLC, was sentenced to 15 months in prison for evading $946,479 in taxes by not reporting $8.9 million in income. His attorney, Nathaniel MacPherson, emphasized that Voyton repaid the owed taxes plus $3.75 million in penalties and interest. Despite this repayment and Voyton's guilty plea, prosecutors sought a two-year sentence, arguing a lesser term might suggest financial means could negate criminal consequences. However, U.S. District Judge John W. Holcomb considered Voyton’s nonviolent crime, remorse, and eagerness to resume business, ultimately deciding on the 15-month sentence. Holcomb appreciated Voyton's sincere remorse and expressed confidence in his positive post-sentence prospects. Voyton was granted until January 8 to begin his sentence.

"I greatly appreciate the hard work of Idaho Rep. Heather Scott in spearheading this effort and the diligent efforts undertaken by Richard Seamon, The MacPherson Group, and Boyles Law to make this amicus brief possible," Lt. Gov. McGeachin said

“It really has to do with equality under the law and under the order.”; “He didn't make any accommodation for the practice of our religious freedom.”

“All fundamental constitutional rights are, as a matter of law, ‘essential.’” MacPherson and Boyles Law filed suit against Idaho Governor Brad Little and Director of Idaho Department of Health and Welfare Dave Jeppesen, challenging the constitutionality of Idaho’s COVID-19 “Stay-Home Order.”

Dear Mr. MacPherson, Thank you for stopping by my office and

Drake law professors Matt and Laurie Dore’s recently returned from a three-week research trip to the European Union to work on a project that combines their areas of expertise — corporate law and choice of law

When Donald W. MacPherson dresses for success, he wears army fatigues. MacPherson appears in full combat gear on the cover of this 1989 book, in his black-and-white glossy publicity photo, and maybe even in the Phoenix office where he practices law.

"Honorable MacPherson family,
From the depths of my heart, I thank the MacPherson Wisemen, who helped formulate a bold response to [the] attack on me. With my deepest appreciation. You were knights in shining armor, in the largest political attack of my life. I will forever appreciate that you stood with me."

Senator Lora Reinbold
Alaska State Legislature

Once again, The MacPherson Group and local Idaho counsel Colton Boyles [link to his website] have gone on the offensive against government tyranny. On Friday, July 31, 2020, they filed suit against Panhandle Health District for violations of the open meeting law related to the passage of a mask mandate for Kootenai County (Coeur d’Alene and surrounding communities).

“The restrictions put in place by Governor Little and Mayor Lambert are overly burdensome, particularly on Churches, and I believe they are unconstitutional.

I’ve been preparing them all of their lives for this, I never allowed my career, about which I’m obviously passionate, to come between my family and me. The best way to do that was to involve all three sons and my wife in my practice.

Common Core violates U.S. and state constitutions and usurps parental rights, attorneys Nathan MacPherson and Brent Winters told a crowd of about 20 residents, including several homeschool parents. No school district officials or public school teachers were present at the presentation titled, “Teach Freedom, Not Bondage: Exposing Common Core.”

PHOENIX – Donald MacPherson peers out from the cover of one of his self-published books, a ruggedly handsome 25-year-old platoon leader in military uniform and a crew cut.