Chicago man who terrorized a person in Mason City sent to federal prison

SIOUX CITY – This Chicago man brought his way of life to small town north Iowa, and now he will take his attitude to a federal prison cell for at least a year.

Shaninth Michael Ray, age 38, from Chicago, Illinois, pled guilty Tuesday, March 31, in federal court in Sioux City to Cyberstalking.

In a plea agreement, Ray admitted that between April 2023 and October 2023, he continuously threatened to kill an Iowa resident and members of their family, after a no contact order was issued against Ray. Ray made his threats via telephone, text message and video, through numerous platforms, stating he would, “end” the victim’s life and “bash [the victim’s] face in with a rock,” as well as threatened to kill the victim in other various ways. In one of Ray’s videos he sent, he explicitly threatened to end the victims’ life and displayed a firearm.

Ray (pictured at top) was arrested in Minnesota in October 2023 for possession of a firearm as a convicted felon. Ray continued to contact the victim while in custody in Minnesota and Iowa. Ray’s criminal history also includes numerous domestic abuse convictions, violations of protection orders, interference with emergency communications, assault causing bodily harm, possession of controlled substances, harassment, and obstruction.

Sentencing before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Ray remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Ray faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 1 year imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and 3 years of supervised release following any imprisonment.

This case is being investigated by the Mason City, Iowa Police Department and is prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Ron Timmons and Ashley Corkery.