Man Gets Prison For Sending Threats To Philly Police Commissioner

PHILADELPHIA — A Massachusetts man will spend several years in prison for sending racist, misogynistic threats to Philadelphia Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw, federal authorities said Wednesday.

Peter Fratus, 40, of West Dennis, Massachusetts, was sentenced to four years in prison, and three years of supervised release for sending threatening emails to the city's top police officer.

Fratus was convicted in September 2021 after a three-day trial on charges of transmitting threatening communications in interstate commerce.

Federal authorities said Fratus in June 2020 sent two emails to the Outlaw's official City of Philadelphia email address.

Both emails contained racist, offensive, and threatening language, with one communication asking where Outlaw lives.

Authorities also said Fratus has a long history of sending racist, misogynistic threats and assaulting law enforcement officers.

"Sending threats online is a serious federal crime, whether the victim is a private citizen or a prominent civic leader," United States Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams said. "The public can rest assured that our Office, together with our law enforcement partners, will work tirelessly to identify anyone who does this in order to ensure they’re held accountable for their actions."