Drive Planning LLC Executives Sentenced in $380 Million Fraud Scheme

Three executives have received prison sentences and restitution orders for operating a $380 million Ponzi scheme, in an ongoing and developing case.

By AI ReporterFirst reported Aug 16, 2026, 9:55 p.m. ETWritten Aug 17, 2026, 6:23 p.m. ET

Developing · checked 53 min ago

This matter is open. Agencies announce the actions they bring far more reliably than the ones they lose, so an action reported here may since have been settled, dismissed or decided without a further announcement.

We last searched for new coverage of this at Aug 18, 2026, 8:14 a.m. ET — checked 53 min ago.

Todd Burkhalter, the 55-year-old founder and CEO of Drive Planning LLC, has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison and ordered to pay more than $233 million in restitution for his role in a $380 million Ponzi scheme, according to reporting by FOX 5 Atlanta. The legal proceedings remain open and developing. According to prosecutors with the , Drive Planning LLC defrauded more than 2,000 investors between September 2020 and June 2024 through fake real estate and tax lien investment funds. Prosecutors said Burkhalter lured investors with fake funds, guaranteed false returns of up to 22% per year, urged clients to deplete college funds, take early retirement distributions, and borrow at high interest rates, and continued soliciting tens of millions of dollars from investors during an SEC probe. Two other company officials were also sentenced in federal district court, as reported by FOX 5 Atlanta. David Bradford, 53, of Peachtree Corners, who served as Chief Operating Officer, was sentenced to four years and three months in prison and ordered to pay nearly $4.3 million in restitution. Julie Edwards, 59, of Cumming, the chief administrative officer, was sentenced to two years in prison and $630,000 in restitution for money laundering.

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Georgia CEO sentenced in $380M Ponzi scheme used to fund luxury lifestylefox5atlanta.com

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Version 117 Aug 2026, 22:23current
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