Beverly Agent Agrees to License Revocation

Ohio Department of Insurance Director Lee Covington cancelled a hearing for Harry D. Houser, Sr., of Beverly, Ohio. Houser signed a consent order agreeing to the revocation of his insurance license. The Department is wrapping up its investigation of Houser and expects to officially revoke Houser’s license by Oct. 9.

The Department had previously notified Houser of its intent to take disciplinary action against him, including the potential revocation of his license as an insurance agent. The department rescheduled the hearing for Sept. 26 when Houser and his attorney George Coszena delayed signing a consent order proposed by the department in June.

Houser, agent and owner of Houser Insurance Agency, has been accused of 40 violations of the state’s insurance laws and regulations. Between Oct. 23, 1998 and Sept. 19, 2000, Houser allegedly collected approximately $350,000 in premiums for annuities purportedly issued by American Life and Casualty Insurance Company, but never obtained the annuity or returned the premiums.

According to insurance department investigators who worked closely with the Beverly Police Department and Washington County Sheriff’s Office on this investigation, Houser allegedly collected annuity premiums from six couples and one individual but failed to obtain any of the annuities from American Life. In several cases, Houser is accused of issuing fictitious annuity certificates to his victims and in four others, he is accused of issuing fictitious annuity statements and making monthly interest payments himself in order to cover his crime. Houser is accused of collecting two premiums from one couple in the amounts of $100,000 and $50,000.

It is alleged that on neither occasion did he obtain the annuity or return the premium.

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