KVI ex-employee sentenced for rigging radio contest

A former promotions employee of KVI-AM radio was ordered Friday to pay $14,000 in restitution for rigging a call-in contest sponsored by the station.

Ryan Elizabeth Keeley, 27, was accused by the King County Prosecutor's Office of helping friends and associates of the friends to each win $1,000 by picking their names in a contest called the "Secret Listener Salute" in early 2007.

Contestants were supposed to be selected randomly from one of two databases containing the names of potential listeners. Listeners were to call the station within 30 minutes when they heard their names called on air to collect the $1,000 prize.

Keeley, through various means, arranged for the other defendants to sign up for the contest and be selected, then call to collect their prizes, according to charging papers. In return, Keeley received some of the proceeds, including as much as half from some of the defendants, the charging papers say.

Keeley, who left the station in July 2007, was charged earlier this year with first-degree theft and later pleaded guilty to second-degree theft, a felony. As part of her plea agreement, Keeley will not serve any time behind bars, but will pay restitution and agreed not to contact KVI radio or its parent, Fisher Communications.

In court Friday, Keely apologized. She has since moved to Arizona, where she is working at a coffee shop and seeking drug treatment. A presentencing report filed by the defense says that Keeley is addicted to OxyContin.

"I'm very sorry for what I did," Keeley said in court. "Had drugs not been involved, I would have not made a decision like that."

The 14 people who Seattle police say helped Keeley with the scheme were charged initially with second-degree theft, but their cases were later dismissed.

The dismissal was announced after prosecutors found that the defendants should have been charged with a misdemeanor, but because the crime was nearly three years old the statute of limitations had expired for a misdemeanor charge to be filed, said King County Deputy Prosecutor Angela Kaake.

Representatives for Fisher Communications did not speak during the sentencing hearing. In a letter addressed to the court, James Clayton, vice president and general manager, wrote that Keeley's actions have "damaged our reputation and credibility with the FCC [Federal Communications Commission], listeners and advertisers and within the community at large."

Jennifer Sullivan: 206-464-8294 or jensullivan@seattletimes.com

Information from Seattle Times archives is included in this report