A Chicago man has pleaded guilty in federal court to cyberstalking an Iowa resident.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Iowa, 38-year-old Shaninth Michael Ray entered the plea Tuesday in Sioux City.
Court documents state that between April and October 2023, Ray repeatedly threatened to kill the victim and members of the victim’s family, despite a no-contact order. Authorities say the threats were made through phone calls, text messages and videos across multiple platforms. In one instance, Ray allegedly sent a video showing a firearm while making threats.
Ray was arrested in Minnesota in October 2023 on a separate charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Prosecutors say he continued contacting the victim while in custody.
Ray remains in custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending sentencing, which will be scheduled following a presentence investigation. He faces a mandatory minimum of one year in prison and up to 10 years, along with a possible $250,000 fine and up to three years of supervised release.
The case was investigated by the Mason City Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ron Timmons and Ashley Corkery.
