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A wildly popular YouTube star has been arrested for allegedly evading taxes while buying a $400,000 Ferrari that he then filmed being destroyed in a raging fire.
Cody Detwiler, 27, who has more than 10 million subscribers to his “WhistlinDiesel” channel, faces two felony counts of tax evasion related to sales tax on a 2020 Ferrari F8 Tributo, purchased in January 2023, TMZ reported, citing law enforcement sources.
It matches the Ferrari F8 that the influencer filmed being destroyed in a field fire in an August 2023 video titled, “The fastest way to lose half a million Dollars. My Ferrari is gone.”
He claimed in the video — seen more than 16 million times — that the sports car “burned down to a pile of ash” in a “complete accident” that was caught in a highly polished, professionally filmed video.
Detwiler and his company, WhistlinDiesel LLC,”unlawfully attempted to evade or defeat any tax due to the state of Tennessee of $500 or more,” according to the indictment dated Nov. 5 seen by WSMV.
Detwiler was arrested and booked into Williamson County Jail in Franklin, Tennessee, on Wednesday last week, court records show.
He shared a video of his arrest on Friday, while professing his innocence.
“Yes I was arrested and it’s 100% real. 6 cops showed up at my door and said they had a warrant for ‘Tax Evasion,'” Ditwiler said in the caption for the video of him being led away in handcuffs.
“I have ALWAYS paid ALL of my taxes and I’m still not sure what this is all for, I didn’t get a notice of any sort leading up to this,” he added.
He bonded out of jail the same day and is due back in court on Wednesday.
The influencer’s video of the car burning showed him grinning and looking shocked as the vehicle burned behind him.
Another vehicle also appeared to catch fire as it drove alongside the Ferrari through the middle of a field during the clip on Detwiler’s channel, where he frequently shares footage of dramatic stunts involving cars.
“I regret to inform everyone that my $400,000 Ferrari F8 and rental minivan with only 5,000 miles on it has recently burned down to a pile of ash,” Detwiler wrote in the description for the video, filmed in Waco, Texas, which has more than 16 million views as of November 2025.
“This was a complete accident and I originally intended on filming so many more things with the car, but this was a great lesson to do even more crazy things before your car catches on fire,” he continued.
English (US)