GALLATIN, Tenn. – A Gallatin man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for impersonating a licensed professional after defrauding clients, including the elderly, for more than two decades.
On July 10, 2025, Johnny Ray Jackson, 55, was convicted on two felony counts of impersonating a licensed professional in Sumner County. Under Tennessee law, Jackson must serve 365 days in jail day-for-day, followed by the remainder of his sentence—nine years under Community Corrections supervision.
The sentencing followed an extensive investigation by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI). According to a July 11 press release from 18th Judicial District Attorney General Ray Whitley, Jackson had illegally sold insurance for over 20 years despite having his insurance license revoked back in 1999. The revocation stemmed from the misappropriation of premium payments, failure to reimburse clients, and altering policy dates.
Evidence presented during sentencing revealed that Jackson fraudulently transferred an elderly client’s annuity funds without consent, resulting in substantial financial penalties for the client while Jackson collected over $3,000 in commissions.
“Less restrictive alternatives have failed,” said Whitley, stressing the importance of incarceration for repeat offenders who exploit public trust, especially when targeting vulnerable populations.
Jackson’s legal troubles extend beyond this conviction. A 2023 indictment by the Sumner County Grand Jury charged him with 47 counts of identity theft, money laundering, theft of property over $10,000, financial exploitation of the elderly, and conspiracy to commit theft.
Jackson was previously ordered to cease operations in 2018 after the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance found he was selling insurance products under false pretenses, engaging in forgery, and misappropriating client funds.
