Superior man faces federal charges for mailed threat

MADISON — A Superior man was indicted Wednesday in federal court for allegedly mailing two threatening letters to an area individual and his family.

Gerald Johnsted, 62, allegedly mailed letters Aug. 14, 2009, and Jan. 2, 2010, containing a white powder to an addressee in the Superior area, said Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Graber. The recipient of the letters notified postal inspectors who investigated the matter.

The letters weren’t signed and didn’t contain typical identification, Graber said. One letter had a Duluth postmark and the other postmark wasn’t legible, he said.

The nature of the dispute between Johnsted and the addressee, and how authorities linked him to the case will be disclosed during Johnsted’s Dec. 11 initial court appearance, Graber said.

To convict Johnsted, the government must prove the defendant expressed a threat to injure or kill another person and both letters allegedly included a threat to kill, said Graber.

“I can’t share the wording of the letters now, that’s not part of the public record,” Graber said.

If convicted Johnsted faces maximum statutory penalties of 10 years in prison on each count.

Johnsted has been summoned to the Dec. 11 court appearance where a custody determination could be made. Graber said this isn’t a presumed detention case where the defendant must prove he isn’t a flight risk or a danger to the community.

Johnsted had no attorney of record Thursday morning, said Graber.

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