Trina A. Higgins, U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Utah
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. This sentence was handed down after Bracken was found guilty of making death threats against the Salt Lake County Sheriff and other entities over the foreclosure of his property.
Senior U.S. District Court Judge Ted Stewart delivered the sentence following Bracken's conviction by a federal jury in October 2024 on four counts of stalking and one count of interstate communication of threats.
Court documents reveal that between March 20 and April 2, 2024, Bracken issued specific threats to kill law enforcement officers and others he held responsible for what he termed "treason," which he said warranted "death." His threats included hangings and shootings, specifying the ammunition caliber intended for use against anyone approaching his foreclosed property. Among these threats were declarations that if the Sheriff's sale proceeded, he would hold the Sheriff accountable for "treasonous acts" with severe consequences.
In response to escalating threats, a multi-agency operation was initiated to safeguard potential victims from violence.
U.S. Attorney Trina A. Higgins emphasized public safety as a priority: “Bracken’s conduct was extreme, unabated, and dangerous. It is our hope the victims he terrorized may find peace in knowing he is behind bars and justice was served.”
Salt Lake County Sheriff Rosie Rivera expressed gratitude towards all involved agencies: "I appreciate the U.S. Attorney's Office for prioritizing the safety of our community and our public servants."
HSI Salt Lake City Assistant Special Agent in Charge Brandon Crane commented on Bracken's actions: "The circumstances Mr. Bracken found himself in were not the making of those he callously threatened to harm but the consequences of his actions."
The investigation into this case was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) alongside the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office. The prosecution was handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah.
