CEO Todd Burkhalter pleads guilty in Georgia Ponzi scheme fraud case

The CEO of a monetary advisory empire accused of being a mastermind Georgia’s largest Ponzi scheme to finance a lifetime of lavish extravagance has pleaded responsible to “blatantly” paying off buyers out of as a lot as $380 million, authorities introduced Wednesday.

The U.S. Legal professional’s Workplace for the Northern District of Georgia stated 54-year-old Todd Burkhalther, founding father of Drive Planning LLC, defrauded greater than 2,000 folks between September 2020 and June 2024.

He reportedly used the stolen cash to constitution non-public jets and purchase a yacht, a multimillion-dollar condo in Mexico, a lavish wardrobe and luxurious automobiles resembling Land Rovers and a camper.

The previous trusted advisor from St. Petersburg, Florida, pleaded responsible to wire fraud, in accordance with officers. He’s one in every of two executives, together with the corporate’s former COO, who admitted to taking part in a task within the yearslong Ponzi scheme, the legislation agency stated.

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Todd Burkhalther is smiling after a visit by Boston, New Hampshire, New Jersey and Philadelphia, in accordance with his Instagram. (@toddburkhalter/Instagram)

“Todd Burkhalter dedicated arguably the biggest Ponzi scheme in Georgia historical past,” stated U.S. Legal professional Theodore S. Hertzberg. “It’s unbelievable that Burkhalter continued to overtly defraud his victims even whereas beneath a federal investigation. At this time’s responsible plea is simply step one in holding Burkhalter accountable for the numerous hurt he induced.”

“Todd Burkhalter constructed a large Ponzi scheme primarily based on lies, exploiting belief to steal lots of of hundreds of thousands of {dollars} from greater than 2,000 victims whereas financing an extravagant way of life,” stated Paul Brown, Particular Agent in Cost of FBI Atlanta.

In accordance with federal investigators, Drive Planning lured strange folks by claiming they didn’t must be accredited buyers to take part and inspired them to speculate cash from retirement accounts, financial savings and features of credit score.

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Todd Burkhalther prepares to fly to Houston, Texas in a chartered non-public jet. (@toddburkhalter/Instagram)

Burkhalter then promised excessive returns, together with a ten% return each three months from a manufactured real estate loan and a 22% annual return on tax liens, whereas falsely claiming that buyers’ cash is protected by the federal government or totally backed by actual property, officers stated.

To perpetuate the lies, Burkhalter allegedly created an inventory of imaginary or irrelevant properties with fabricated valuations that might be offered as collateral.

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Todd Burkhalther will get as much as give a speech to a big gathering at dinner. (Todd Burkhalther/Instagram)

Burkhalter and Drive Planning additionally misrepresented the scope of their relationships with actual property builders, federal investigators stated. A outstanding one, for instance Developer from Atlanta reportedly found that Burkhalter was utilizing a property’s identify to advertise Drive Planning and subsequently sued the corporate.

Authorities stated Burkhalter didn’t use buyers’ cash for its meant function. Inside the first few months of placing his actual property providing in the marketplace, he allegedly used the cash to repay a earlier investor in Drive Planning, cowl his ex-wife’s authorized charges and pay for leisure car bills.

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If Burkhalter meets the phrases of his plea deal, prosecutors will suggest the decide sentence him to a minimal of 17 years in jail.

His former colleague, David Bradford, additionally pleaded responsible on Dec. 16, 2025, to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, officers stated. His sentencing listening to is scheduled for March 17.