Pryor Daily Times

July 21, 2008

Second insurance agent charged with embezzlement

Sommer Woodward

Another insurance agent in Locust Grove is charged with embezzling money which should have been applied to a customer’s premium.

Larry Dale Gwartney, 50, Locust Grove, is accused of misappropriating $10,281 from Michael Bostick, which was paid to cover a commercial

insurance policy.

An insurance commission

investigation began after Justin Cowan, owner of Cowan Insurance Agency, found records indicating several premiums hadn’t been paid on customer accounts.

An investigator interviewed Gwartney in May. Records state Gwartney admitted he didn’t pay the premium on Bostick’s policy, stating “I thought I needed the money more than he did.”

An arrest warrant was issued July 15 and a $50,000 bond was set.

Gwartney had not been picked up on the arrest warrant as of press time.