CEO Todd Burkhalter pleads guilty in Georgia Ponzi scheme fraud case

The CEO of a financial consulting empire accused of masterminding Georgia’s largest Ponzi scheme to finance a life of lavish opulence has pleaded guilty to “shamelessly” bilking investors out of a staggering $380 million, authorities announced Wednesday.

Todd Burkhalter, 54, founder of Drive Planning LLC, defrauded more than 2,000 people between September 2020 and June 2024, the US Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia said.

He reportedly used the stolen money to charter private jets and purchase a yacht, a multi-million dollar apartment in Mexico, a lavish wardrobe and luxury vehicles such as a Land Rover and an RV.

The former trusted advisor of St. Petersburg, Florida, has pleaded guilty to wire fraud, according to officials. He is one of two executives, including the company’s former COO, who admitted to playing a role in the Ponzi scheme that went on for years, the attorney’s office said.

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“Todd Burkhalter committed what is likely the largest Ponzi scheme in Georgia history,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Incredibly, Burkhalter shamelessly continued to deceive his victims even while under federal investigation. Today’s guilty plea is just the first step in holding Burkhalter accountable for the significant harm he caused.”

“Todd Burkhalter built a massive Ponzi scheme on lies, exploiting trust to steal hundreds of millions of dollars from more than 2,000 victims while financing an extravagant lifestyle,” said Paul Brown, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Atlanta.

According to federal investigators, Drive Planning lured ordinary people by claiming they did not need to be accredited investors to participate and encouraged them to invest money from retirement accounts, savings and lines of credit.

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Todd Burkhalter prepares to fly to Houston, Texas, on a private charter plane. (@toddburkhalter/Instagram)

Burkhalter then promised high returns, including a 10% return every quarter from a fabricated mortgage loan and a 22% annual return from tax liens, while falsely claiming that investors’ funds were protected by the government or fully secured by real estate, officials said.

To perpetuate the lies, Burkhalter reportedly created a list of fictitious or unrelated properties with fabricated appraisals to offer as collateral.

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Todd Burkhalter stands to address a large crowd during dinner. (Todd Burkalther/Instagram)

Federal investigators said Burkhalter and Drive Planning misrepresented the scope of their relationships with real estate developers. For example, a prominent developer in Atlanta reportedly discovered that Burkhalter was using a property name to promote Drive Planning and subsequently sued the company.

Authorities said Burkhalter did not use investors’ money for its intended purpose. During the first few months of marketing his real estate offering, he allegedly used the funds to repay a former investor in Drive Planning, cover his ex-wife’s legal fees and pay RV-related expenses.

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If Burkhalter meets the terms of the plea agreement, prosecutors will recommend that a judge sentence him to at least 17 years in prison.

His former colleague, David Bradford, also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud on Dec. 16, 2025. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for March 17, officials said.