Snapshot from Aug 24, 2026 at 07:00 UTC. For live data and tracking: View Live
Events / Business / Drive Planning Ponzi scheme sentencing
Business fraud sentencing

Drive Planning Ponzi scheme sentencing

Analysis based on 7 articles · First reported Aug 14, 2026 · Last updated Aug 16, 2026

Sentiment
-60
Attention
4
Articles
7
Market Impact
General
Live prominence charts, article sentiment distribution, and event development timeline available on the Ergen Dashboard
Market Impact

The sentencing concludes a major fraud case that may affect investor confidence in small financial advisory firms and increase regulatory scrutiny. The restitution orders and asset seizures may partially compensate victims, but the market impact is limited to the affected investors and the firm's clients.

Financial services Investment advisory
Event Summary

Todd Burkhalter, founder and CEO of Drive Planning LLC, was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for orchestrating a $380 million Ponzi scheme that defrauded more than 2,000 investors from September 2020 to June 2024. The scheme involved fake real estate and tax lien investment funds, including the 'Real Estate Acceleration Loan' (REAL) and the 'Cash Out Real Estate Fund' (CORE Fund). Burkhalter used investor funds for lavish personal expenses, including a $2 million yacht, a $2.1 million condo in Cabo San Lucas, and luxury vehicles. He was ordered to pay over $233 million in restitution. Two other executives, Ed Bradford and Julie Morgan, were also sentenced to prison terms for their roles. The United States — United States Securities and Exchange Commission began investigating in March 2024 and obtained a restraining order in August 2024. The FBI investigated the case, and the U.S. Attorney's Office prosecuted it. A court-appointed receiver is working to recover assets for victims.

Key Actions
100 Todd Burkhalter defrauded investors
100 Todd Burkhalter sentenced to prison
80 Todd Burkhalter pleaded guilty
80 United States — United States Securities and Exchange Commission investigated scheme Drive Planning LLC
80 United States — United States Department of Justice prosecuted executives
70 Ed Bradford pleaded guilty
70 Ed Bradford sentenced to prison
70 United States — Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated scheme Drive Planning LLC
60 Julie Morgan pleaded guilty
60 Julie Morgan sentenced to prison
60 Tiffany R. Johnson sentenced executives
50 Theodore S. Hertzberg announced sentences
50 Marlo Graham condemned scheme
Entities Involved
per
Todd Burkhalter
Founder and CEO of Drive Planning, masterminded the Ponzi scheme, sentenced to 20 years in prison and ordered to pay over $233 million in restitution.
Importance 100.0 Sentiment -100.0
priv
Drive Planning LLC
The company operated the fraudulent investment funds and is now in receivership, with assets being sold to repay victims.
Importance 90.0 Sentiment -100.0
govactor
United States — United States Securities and Exchange Commission
Investigated Drive Planning and obtained a temporary restraining order freezing assets, playing a key role in halting the scheme.
Importance 70.0 Sentiment 20.0
per
Ed Bradford
Former COO, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, sentenced to 4 years and 3 months in prison and ordered to pay $4.3 million in restitution.
Importance 60.0 Sentiment -80.0
govactor
United States — Federal Bureau of Investigation
Investigated the Ponzi scheme, leading to the prosecution and sentencing of the executives.
Importance 60.0 Sentiment 20.0
govactor
United States — United States Department of Justice
Prosecuted the case, securing guilty pleas and sentences for the three executives.
Importance 60.0 Sentiment 20.0
per
Julie Morgan
Former chief administrative officer, pleaded guilty to money laundering, sentenced to 2 years in prison and ordered to pay $630,000 in restitution.
Importance 50.0 Sentiment -70.0
per
Theodore S. Hertzberg
U.S. Attorney who announced the sentences and condemned the scheme, representing the prosecution.
Importance 40.0 Sentiment 10.0
per
Tiffany R. Johnson
U.S. District Judge who imposed the sentences on the three executives.
Importance 40.0 Sentiment 10.0
per
Marlo Graham
FBI Special Agent in Charge who highlighted the scale of the fraud and Burkhalter's continued exploitation of victims.
Importance 30.0 Sentiment 10.0
Relationships
United States — United States Securities and Exchange Commission related ↔ United States — Federal Bureau of Investigation
United States — United States Securities and Exchange Commission related ↔ United States — United States Department of Justice
United States — Federal Bureau of Investigation related ↔ United States — United States Department of Justice
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