Reno man sentenced to prison for making death threats over stolen claims

LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – A Reno man has been sentenced to prison for sending death threats to multiple Nevada officials after he claimed the 2020 election was rigged.

Matthew Carter has been sentenced to 6-15 years in prison on multiple counts of stalking and stalking, Attorney General Aaron Ford announced Monday. Carter pleaded guilty in September.

According to the Attorney General’s Office, Carter sent numerous racist and threatening messages to numerous election officials before and after the 2020 general election. Carter is reported to have sent a letter to the following address:

• U.S. Attorney Jason Frierson, formerly Speaker of the Nevada Assembly.
• State Treasurer Zach Konin
• Ivanna Cancela, a former state senator, is chief of staff to Governor Steve Sisolak
• Assemblyman Steve Yeager
• Assemblyman Leslie Cohen
• Assemblywoman Brittney Miller

Carter has reportedly backed a bogus conspiracy theory that the 2020 election was stolen, citing widespread mail-in voting as the reason for his threats. The attorney general’s office said Carter’s threats included racial slurs and references to lynching.

“Carter’s actions were despicable and beyond the pale, and my office will never tolerate such behavior,” said A.G. Ford. “Political differences are not an excuse to harass or threaten the lives of elected officials. We have to be better than that. As long as I am Attorney General, my office will prosecute such actions to the fullest extent of the law.”

AG Ford said there is no evidence of widespread voter fraud in the 2020 election.

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