SIOUX CITY — A Chicago man who repeatedly threatened to kill a Mason City resident and members of the victim’s family has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison.
Shaninth Michael Ray (pictured at top), 38, of Chicago, Illinois, was sentenced in Sioux City by U.S. District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand to 120 months in federal prison.
The sentence will run consecutive to any other term of imprisonment.
Federal prosecutors said Ray continuously threatened the Iowa victim between April and October 2023, even after a no-contact order had been issued against him.
Ray allegedly used telephone calls, text messages, videos and multiple online platforms to continue contacting and threatening the victim.
According to prosecutors, Ray threatened to “end” the victim’s life and said he would “bash [the victim’s] face in with a rock.”
Authorities said he threatened to kill the victim in other ways as well.
In one video, Ray explicitly threatened to end the victim’s life while displaying a gun.
NIT previously reported in April that Ray had terrorized a person in Mason City and was headed to federal prison as the case moved through the federal court system.
Ray was arrested in Minnesota in October 2023 for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.
Prosecutors said that did not stop the harassment.
Ray continued contacting the victim while he was in custody in both Minnesota and Iowa.
His criminal history includes numerous domestic abuse convictions, violations of protection orders, interference with emergency communications, assault causing bodily harm, controlled substance offenses, harassment and obstruction.
Judge Strand described Ray’s criminal history as “atrocious and disgraceful” and characterized the conduct in the cyberstalking case as horrific, noting the terror inflicted on the victim and the victim’s family.
In addition to the 10-year prison term, Ray must serve three years of supervised release after completing his sentence.
There is no parole in the federal prison system.
Ray remains in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transfer to a federal prison.
The case was investigated by the Mason City Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ron Timmons.