Man accused of scamming Riverbend Communications
Police have arrested an Idaho Falls man they said scammed Riverbend Communications out of $200,000.
Ryan D. Thueson, 34, was arrested on a warrant for grand theft, forgery and computer crime Wednesday afternoon.
The warrant stems from an investigation that began in September last year, when Riverbend Communications reported Ryan Thueson, who was doing business as 78 Productions.
That month, Thueson was in the news twice: he was missing and was found a short time later and his company was linked to the cancellation of an Alice Cooper concert.
Thueson was contracted by Riverbend Communications to bring Brad Paisley, Carrie Underwood, Lady Antebellum and others into the area to perform. Riverbend Communications gave Thueson money that was to be placed into a bank escrow account. The money was to ensure the performers would receive a minimum payment for their appearance. The money was collected over a period of time from September 2012 to September 2013.
Police said Thueson claimed to be working with a promoter for the entertainers, but the promoter was made up by Thueson. He forwarded emails and other documents to Riverbend Communications from the fake promoter, they said.
Police also said Thueson forged documents from the bank to Riverbend Communications. The money was not in the bank account, and Thueson no longer had it.
Idaho Falls-based Riverbend Communications owns several radio stations, including Classy 97, Z103, 105.5 The Hawk and K-Bear 101. It also focuses on events and outdoor advertising.
