Salt Lake man's threats earn him a 63-month term

A Salt Lake City man has been sentenced to 63 months behind bars for sending a threatening letter to a Utah federal prosecutor.

U.S. District Judge Ted Stewart on Thursday sentenced Joe Rakes, 50, to prison for conspiring to impede a federal prosecutor. Rakes sent a threatening letter that referred to racketeering charges brought against members of the Soldiers of Aryan Culture, a prison gang. Rakes called the female prosecutor an ugly name, said he knew where she lived, threatened "We will get you" and signed off with "till the casket drops."

Rakes was convicted after a three-day trial in March. Because the threat was directed toward a Utah federal prosecutor, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Idaho handled the prosecution.