YouTuber Cody Detwiler, better known as WhistlinDiesel, is speaking out again following his recent arrest on felony tax evasion charges — and this time, he’s offering a more pointed explanation.
The 27-year-old was arrested on Nov. 12 in Williamson County, Tenn., in connection with sales tax allegedly owed on a 2020 Ferrari F8.
The car made headlines after it went up in flames during one of Detwiler’s viral stunt videos.
Now, Detwiler says the charges stem from registering that Ferrari in Montana — a move he claims is common among luxury car owners, and completely legal.
‘This Entire Thing…’
In a series of Instagram Stories, the influencer said he believes Tennessee officials are targeting him to send a message to others in the high-end car space.
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“This entire thing is about registering my Ferrari F8 in Montana (the car that burned down),” he wrote. “Montana doesn’t require sales tax on vehicles.”
Detwiler claims the state is now trying to frame the move as criminal.
“They have an angle that this is tax evasion,” he said, warning followers: “Do not move your Montana registrations to TN. This is exactly what they want and why they are trying to go after me.”
‘They Think It’ll Make a Wave’
The YouTube star — who has more than 10 million subscribers — says authorities are trying to make an example out of him to crack down on similar registration tactics.
“They think it will make a wave through the luxury car community and bring in tax money,” he claimed.
Detwiler has maintained his innocence and said he received no notice before the arrest.
He also confirmed he spent several hours in jail before posting bond. His first court appearance is scheduled for Nov. 19.
Viral Cars, Court Dates + ‘100% Real’ Charges
The Ferrari in question appeared in a now-viral YouTube video, where Detwiler drove it through a cornfield before it caught fire — along with a nearby rental van.
“There goes half a million dollars,” he joked in the video. “I guess don’t drive in cornfields.”
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Following his arrest, Detwiler posted his mugshot to Instagram with a caption that read, “Won so big they thought I was cheating. (100% real, not AI).”
In a follow-up, he said: “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.”
For now, he says he plans to keep fans updated as the case moves forward.
Even celebrities can find themselves in hot water with the law, and when that happens, the mug shots can be quite eye opening. Here are some of the best, and the worst.
Gallery Credit: Wood