By Mason Edwards
Chattanooga Times Free Press, Tenn.
(TNS)
A federal judge delayed former Chattanooga accountant Jonathan Frost’s sentencing for a second time Tuesday following a joint request from prosecutors and defense.
U.S. District Judge Travis McDonough originally scheduled Frost’s sentencing for Aug. 7 after the defendant pleaded guilty in February to three federal financial crimes involving conspiracies to commit tax fraud, wire fraud and money laundering.
Frost has remained free on a $10,000 bond.
Both sides need more time to provide the court information that would be relevant at Frost’s sentencing, according to a Monday court filing. The joint request asked for a status conference date in December.
For good cause, McDonough wrote, he granted the joint motion, canceled the Friday sentencing date and scheduled a status conference for 2 p.m. Dec. 15.
Frost’s defense attorney, Lee Davis, said by phone he would rely on what the filings said. He previously filed an unopposed request asking for the first delay because of a scheduling conflict.
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In May, a nearly $50 million civil judgment was entered against Frost, 42, and three companies tied to him.
The 2023 lawsuit accused Frost and other defendants of running a clean energy investment scheme that used about 99% of investor funds to prop up other businesses and pay personal expenses.
It’s unlikely that victims will receive restitution from Frost, as other civil judgments have not been successful in recouping losses, according to Chicago attorney Alex Loftus, who represents investors in the complaint.
Frost’s federal plea agreement set maximums of up to 20 years in prison on each of the wire fraud and money laundering conspiracies and up to five years for the tax fraud conspiracy.
Frost also admitted guilt to the facts laid out in the plea agreement, which detailed how the accountant and a coconspirator solicited funds to build a plant that would use solar power to extract hydrogen gas from water.
Frost and his coconspirators used wire communications to intentionally defraud investors regarding the proposed hydrogen plant, the plea agreement filing said.
Investor funds were used to pay Frost’s employees at his accounting firm, cash loans with exorbitant interest fees and other expenses unrelated to the construction of the facility.
The agreement also accused Frost and coconspirators of defrauding the government in fraudulent tax returns at a cost to the United States of over $8 million. The plea agreement said that unless otherwise negotiated, Frost could owe the government no less than $70 million.
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© 2026 the Chattanooga Times/Free Press (Chattanooga, Tenn.). Visit www.timesfreepress.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency LLC.
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