Fans of the viral YouTube page called WhistlinDiesel were stunned when the owner of the page, Cody Detwiler, released a somber video explaining the whole story behind his unexpected arrest. Known for extreme automotive stunts and humor, he opened the video by saying, “Everything in this video is 100% real… and I’m not joking around.”
The incident began at his shop, where his employees told him multiple officers were walking down the driveway. Expecting a prank, Cody stepped outside—only to immediately hear, “Mr. Detwiler, put your hands behind your back.” He said he was completely confused, noting, “They arrest me without telling me why… I still have zero clue.”
After several minutes and persistent questioning, officers finally showed him the paperwork: a warrant for tax evasion. According to Cody, this news came as a complete surprise to him. “I’ve paid all my taxes. It might look like what we do is illegal and sketchy, but I do everything within legal parameters. So we’re very careful to pay our taxes. I have a great accountant that keeps track of everything,” he said. Even more concerning, Cody claims he never received any prior notice: “Not a letter, not a text, not an email, not anything.”
Days later, he finally learned what the charges were based on: sales tax on a Ferrari F8 that no longer exists. The car famously burned in Texas and was later crushed. It had been legally titled and registered under a Montana LLC—something Cody pointed out is extremely common in the exotic car world. “Eighty-five percent of luxury car owners have a business in Montana,” he said.
Despite that, Tennessee issued indictments against both him personally and his company. Officers tightened the cuffs so hard that Cody recalled asking, “Are you unlocking those or tightening them up?” They replied, “I’m putting them where they won’t tighten anymore.”
Cody spent roughly three hours in jail before posting a $20,000 bond. At the station, he said even staff seemed surprised: “I heard, ‘I’ve never seen that one before—tax evasion.’” While he tried to stay calm, he admitted he feared it might be over something much worse before learning the actual allegation.
In the video, Cody theorized that he was targeted because of his influence in the automotive community. “They think it will make a wave… scare people into re-registering their vehicles.” He warned viewers that if authorities handled his case this way, others could be next.
To cover legal expenses, Cody relaunched his merch line featuring his indictment number and even joked that there’s “no sales tax on these.” His next court date is in January, and he promises to keep fans updated. Despite the chaos, Cody made it clear that he’s ready to fight the charges and stand his ground.
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