As we reflect on the past years in the music industry, we can’t ignore the intriguing tales of scams and frauds that sometimes shape the narrative. One such story that reverberates even today is the infamous rigged radio contest scandal of 2007 at KVI-AM, a talk radio station. The alleged mastermind behind the scheme was Ryan Elizabeth Keeley, a former promotions coordinator at the station. The incident, which initially seemed insignificant, took a serious turn when the station decided to press charges. This post dives into the details of this scandal and brings into focus the individuals involved, the charges pressed, and the repercussions that followed.
The Scandal Unfolds
A former KVI-AM promotions coordinator was charged Tuesday with first-degree theft for allegedly rigging a radio contest to pocket some of the winnings, and 14 others allegedly involved in the scam were charged with second-degree theft.
From Feb. 6 to March 30, 2007, KVI 570-AM ran a Secret Listener Salute, in which names were announced three times daily. The listeners were told they had 30 minutes from the time of the announcement to call and win $1,000.
The Alleged Mastermind
Prosecutors said Ryan Elizabeth Keeley, 26, was responsible for selecting contest names from two databases — one of KVI online Insider Club Members and another created through telemarketing. Keeley, the station’s promotions coordinator, would then give the winning name to the broadcast booth to be announced, but police say she gave names of associates rather than legitimate winners. Keeley left the station in the summer of 2007.
The Accomplices
Among the 14 people charged in King County Superior Court with second-degree theft were Allen Edward Chapman, Julie Anne Bergstrom, and Jaron Johnson. These individuals were linked to Keeley and were part of the alleged scam.
Repercussions and Aftermath
Police allege Keeley, the former promotions coordinator, worked out details of the scam in March 2007, about four months before she left the station. The contest had 28 winners. The scam was reported in 2008 by the human resources manager for Fisher Broadcasting Inc., KVI’s parent company. Keeley’s former supervisors told police they were unaware of the situation when it was happening. The company contacted police on advisement of the Federal Communications Commission, which Fisher had contacted after learning of the alleged scam.
Despite the charges, none of the alleged thieves are currently in custody, with an arraignment scheduled for Feb. 16.
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