PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A Massachusetts man has been sentenced to four years in prison after being convicted of sending threatening messages to Philadelphia’s police commissioner.
In a forest green jumpsuit, Peter Fratus stepped in front of Federal Judge Gerald Pappart. He read a poem and article he wrote about humanity and pointed to alcoholism, which he says is what led to threats against Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw.
Fratus, 40, was convicted by a jury in September with "transmitting threatening communications in interstate commerce." He sent two emails to Outlaw using the n-word, said he was going to kill her, and made anti-Semitic statements.
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During his lengthy speech, Fratus said his alcoholic "Dr. Jekyll" and "Mr. Hyde" behavior was malicious and he apologized for his racist remarks, saying he hopes the commissioner can forgive him.
The judge went through Fratus’ lengthy criminal history, including assault and battery on police convictions, an assault of a Black woman, as well as disorderly conduct offenses which included racist rants.
Fratus has been in prison since his arrest in June of 2020.
