UPDATE — 11/17/25, 12:57 p.m. ET: Cody Detwiler, known as WhistlinDiesel on YouTube, has spoken out following his arrest in Tennessee for alleged tax evasion.
“Yes I was arrested and it’s 100% real,” Detwiler, 27, wrote via Instagram on Friday, November 14, alongside a video of police escorting him away in handcuffs. “Six cops showed up at my door and said they had a warrant for ‘Tax Evasion.’ They didn’t explain why or how or when, and I still don’t know. After the cops squeezing the handcuffs super tight I got taken to jail and spent a few hours there until my team bailed me out. I got a cell and everything 😂.”
Detwiler continued, “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. There is a court date set and I will give active updates.”
The YouTuber later took to his Instagram Stories on Sunday, November 16, to claim that Tennessee may be targeting him.
“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 continued, “They have an angle that this is tax evasion. Do not move your Montana registrations to TN. This is exactly what they want and why they are trying to go after me.”
Detwiler, who has maintained his innocence, claimed that police are trying to make an example out of him.
“They think it will make a wave through the luxury car community and bring in tax money,” he added.
Original story continues below:
Cody Detwiler, known as WhistlinDiesel on YouTube, has been arrested for alleged tax evasion, Luxury Handbag Shopping can confirm.
Detwiler, 27, was arrested on Wednesday, November 12, in Tennessee on two felony counts of alleged tax evasion, according to online records viewed by Us on Friday, November 14. The YouTuber was released on bond from Williamson County Court later that same day.
Detwiler’s first hearing is set for November 19.
According to the indictment obtained by Us, Detwiler’s charges are related to the sales tax owed on a 2020 Ferrari F8 Tributo that was purchased in January 2023.
Detwiler addressed his arrest via Instagram on Thursday, November 13, sharing his mugshot, as well as photos and video footage of his police escort.
“Won so big they thought I was cheating. (100% real not AI),” the influencer captioned the post.
Detwiler also denied any wrongdoing by commenting, “I didn’t do ANYTHING.”
Many fans expressed their support for Detwiler in the comments section, with one writing, “Rooting for you brother!”
Another user added, “FREE WD,” while a third person commented, “Don’t worry bro I got your bond.”
A Ferrari F8 appears in a video that Detwiler posted to YouTube in August 2023. The video showed the red sports car catching fire after the Indiana native drove it through a corn field. A van that was being driven alongside the Ferrari caught fire, as well. Detwiler and his crew could be heard calling the fire department as the cars went up in a blaze.
“There goes half a million dollars. I guess don’t drive in cornfields,” Detwiler said at one point. “Hard loss, but I can’t say it wasn’t gonna happen anyways. … We’ll recover from this someday.”
In the description of the video, he wrote, “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. 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. Tis But A Scratch! We will be back Ferrari …”
Detwiler also shared photos of the burning car via Instagram at the time.
“Yeah listen uuhhhh… we f*cked up. (that’s my brand new Ferrari and rental minivan with all of our belongings inside) YouTube video of the whole situation is live,” he wrote in the caption.
Another Instagram post from earlier that month showed Detwiler sitting on top of the Ferrari while fishing in a lake.
“Using my Ferrari how it was meant to be used (stage 1/100) coming soon,” he wrote.
Detwiler has been making YouTube videos since he was 16 years old. His content often revolves around him destroying luxury cars and other vehicles, including a Tesla Model 3, a Ford Ranger, a Mercedes G-Wagon, a Lamborghini Huracán, a Dodge Hellcat, a Farmall Tractor and more. His YouTube channel currently has more than 10 million subscribers.
