Idaho Scammer Sentenced

Ryan Thueson was sentenced for grand theft June 3 and could serve up to eight years in prison for scamming Riverbend Communications, Bonneville County Prosecuting Attorney Bruce Pickett told the Idaho State Journal.

“Based upon (the amount) of money stolen and the criminal thinking, we felt prison was appropriate,” Pickett said.

Thueson is also on the hook to repay $228,500 to Riverbend. He conned the company through his business, 78 Productions, and accepted funds to bring Brad Paisley, Carrie Underwood and Lady Antebellum, police told the paper.

But after the money was received, Thueson apparently spent it and never attempted to bring the artists to the area. Riverbend Communications applauded the ruling, saying “this was a complicated investigation of an elaborate scheme to steal nearly a quarter million dollars, involving fraud, forged documents, faked phone calls, fictitious email accounts, and face to face lies and deceit,” according to the State Journal. The company added it’s still committed to bringing shows to the region.