Georgia CEO’s $380M Ponzi Scheme Ends in 20-Year Prison Sentence
Todd Burkhalter, founder of Drive Planning LLC near Atlanta, was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for orchestrating a $380 million Ponzi scheme that defrauded more than 2,000 investors to fund a lavish lifestyle (yachts, private jets, Cabo condo, luxury purchases). The scheme, active from 2020 to 2024, used fake collateral and real estate–backed investments (REAL and CORE Fund) to lure retirement funds and savings, with prosecutors calling it Georgia’s largest Ponzi case. Two of his executives received lighter sentences after pleading guilty or being convicted, including COO David Bradford (four years) and Julie Edwards (two years).