Former Clarksville Attorney Sentenced to Eight Years for Embezzling Over $85,000 from Firm Trust Account
Joel David Ragland, a former attorney from Clarksville, Tennessee, has been sentenced to eight years for embezzling over $85,000 from his law firm's client trust account. Ragland, who was permanently disbarred in October 2025, admitted to the theft in January 2026. He will serve one year in jail, with the remaining seven years on supervised probation, and is required to pay $70,250 in restitution. The investigation began in March 2024 when Eric Yow, a partner at Apex Title, reported missing funds. An internal audit revealed that $85,236 was unaccounted for. Ragland confessed to writing unauthorized checks from the trust account to his personal bank account and using some of the funds to pay off a personal loan. During the sentencing, Judge William Goodman III heard testimonies from the firm's partners and their families about the financial and personal impact of Ragland's actions. 
