
Ryan Gregory Bracken, a 44-year-old resident of West Valley City, Utah, has been sentenced to five years in prison followed by three years of supervised release for making death threats towards the Salt Lake County Sheriff and others. Senior U.S. District Court Judge Ted Stewart handed down the sentence after a federal jury convicted Bracken on charges of stalking and interstate communication of threats, as reported by the U.S. Department of Justice.
During a period between March 20 and April 2, 2024, Bracken explicitly threatened to kill law enforcement officers and accused several individuals of "treason," a crime he claimed deserved the death penalty. He believed the targets of his threats were to blame for his residence's foreclosure. According to documentation from his trial, Bracken vowed to hold those involved accountable, going so far as to threaten to shoot anyone who entered his property, pinpointing the caliber of ammunition he intended to use. The situation escalated rapidly leading to a multi-agency operation to closely protect the community from these threatened acts of violence.
In statements made during Bracken's sentencing hearing, evidence showcased the extremity of his actions, including threats that he would hold the Sheriff accountable for "treasonous acts" and threats of shootings and hangings. The U.S. Department of Justice highlighted the severity of Bracken's behavior, with U.S. Attorney Trina A. Higgins commenting on the priority of citizen safety and her hopes for peace for the victims terrorized by Bracken.
Bracken's case was jointly investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office, resulting in his conviction. Salt Lake County Sheriff Rosie Rivera expressed her gratitude toward all agencies involved for their efforts "in this investigation and bringing it to a closure,” confirming the community and public servants' safety as a paramount concern. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Utah took charge of the prosecution, ensuring that justice was ultimately served.