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A financial group chief executive is accused of running the largest Ponzi scheme in Georgia’s history to fund a lavish lifestyle, which included purchasing a yacht, a multi-million-dollar condo in Mexico, luxury vehicles, jewelry, and chartering private jets.
Todd Burkhalter, the CEO of Drive Planning LLC., pleaded guilty to defrauding over 2,000 victims for more than $380 million between September 2020 and June 2024, according to US Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg on Wednesday.
“Unbelievably, Burkhalter shamelessly continued to scam his victims even while under federal investigation,” Hertzberg said. “Today’s guilty plea is just the first step in holding Burkhalter accountable for the considerable harm he caused.”
The 54-year-old Florida native used the company — based in. Alpharetta, Ga., — to target several investment opportunities, including the “Real Estate Acceleration Loan” opportunity (“REAL”) and the “Cash Out Real Estate Fund” (“CORE Fund”).
Burkhalter told prospective investors that it was “easy and simple” to invest in the funds and encouraged them to use funds from retirement and savings accounts.
Burkhalter used the REAL as Drive Planning’s primary investment vehicle and “fraudulently marketed as a bridge loan” that guaranteed investors a 10% return every three months.
Throughout the scam, Burkhalter profitted off of investors and loan funds to make personal purchases to fuel his luxury lifestyle.
He deceived investors by claiming the company was fully collateralized by real estate, and backed the lies by creating bogus “collateral sheets” that identified the properties, some of which never existed.
Burkhalter also exaggerated his relationship with prominent real estate developers around Georgia, falsely claiming the investments were secured by properties in the developer’s portfolio.
The deceitful company falsely claimed it provided “100% Passive Income from Tax Liens” from the CORE Fund and guaranteed investors a return of 10% every six months or a 22% return per year for up to three years.
The company received at least $4.1 million from investors in the CORE Fund.
Prosecutors found Burkhalter’s deceptions began from the inception of Drive Planning, where he used the first $50,000 from REAL to pay off an early investor’s $21,000 in 2020.
Burkhalter used the money he scammed from investors to make lavish purchases for his personal life, including a $2 million yacht, $2.1 million luxury condo in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico and $800,000 spent on multiple luxury vehicles that included a 2020 Prevost Marathon motorcoach and two 2024 Land Rovers.
Burkhalter also spent millions on luxury travel, chartering private jets and $320,000 on clothing, jewelry and beauty treatments.
He would later use at least $80,000 in investor funds to pay off his ex-wife’s attorneys and recreational vehicle expenses.
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) launched an investigation into the conman’s company in March 2024, but Burkhalter continued taking tens of millions of dollars through the scheme until September of that year.
Prosecutors are seeking a 17 and a half year prison sentence for Burkhalter as part of his plea deal.
A sentencing hearing hasn’t been scheduled.
Drive Planning’s former chief operating officer, David Bradford, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud on December 16, 2025. His sentencing is scheduled for March 17.