Brentwood Attorney Pleads Guilty to Tax Fraud

NASHVILLE - David Gebhardt, 54, of Brentwood, Tennessee, pleaded guilty today to filing false tax returns that failed to report millions of dollars in income from cryptocurrency sales and from his consulting business.

According to court documents, Gebhardt, a Tennessee-licensed attorney, purchased cryptocurrency but used decentralized exchanges and nominees to conceal his income from those investments. In total, from March 2018 through December 2022, Gebhardt withdrew approximately $6.6 million in funds from his cryptocurrency sales. Despite being warned by his accountants to report all of his cryptocurrency income on his tax returns, he failed to do so. Further, on his 2020 through 2022 returns, he indicated that he did not engage in virtual currency transactions when, in fact, he did. Gebhardt also failed to report all the gross receipts earned by a consulting business he owned. In total, Gebhardt caused a tax loss of more than $550,000 by filing false tax returns for 2018 through 2022.

Gebhardt pleaded guilty to two counts of filing false individual tax returns. His sentencing is scheduled for November 6, 2026. He faces a maximum penalty of 6 years in federal prison, as well as restitution and monetary penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Braden H. Boucek for the Middle District of Tennessee and Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department's Criminal Division made the announcement.

IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.

On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump's Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.

Trial Attorney Parker Tobin of the Criminal Division's Tax Section and Criminal Chief Ahmed Safeeullah for the Middle District of Tennessee are prosecuting the case.

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