A Florida resident faces serious charges after allegedly making threats against a health insurance company, echoing language used in a recent high-profile murder case in New York City.
Briana Boston, 42, of Lakeland, Florida, was arrested and charged with threatening to conduct an act of terrorism, according to local police. The mother of three allegedly made the threats after she was denied an insurance claim during a phone call with Blue Cross Blue Shield on Tuesday.
According to Lakeland police, a recording of the call reveals that Boston told a company representative, “Delay, deny, depose. You people are next.”
The phrase happens to be similar to those found on bullet casings at the scene of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson’s murder in New York City on Dec. 4.
The phrase “delay, deny, defend” is known to reflect a strategy some insurance companies allegedly use when dealing with expensive claims. According to police, Boston claimed she used these words because “it is what is in the news right now.”
When questioned by officers, Boston reportedly said she believed insurance companies “are evil” and “deserve karma.” She also told the officers that she does not own any firearms.
The charge against Boston is classified as a second-degree felony, which carries a potential sentence of up to 15 years in prison if convicted. As of Friday, she was being held without bail at the Polk County jail. Court records do not indicate whether she has secured legal representation.
Reaction to UnitedHealthcare CEO’s Death
Boston’s arrest in Florida follows news that Luigi Mangione, 26, has been charged over the Dec. 4 murder of Thompson, the insurance company CEO.
Mangione’s arrest came five days after the caught-on-camera killing of Thompson outside a Manhattan hotel.
The murder case has sparked intense public reaction, with some individuals praising Mangione and even offering to cover his legal expenses.
Mangione, described as well-educated and from a wealthy Maryland family, was arrested in Pennsylvania. He faces charges of murder, forgery, and carrying a firearm without a license.
Mangione was not a UnitedHealthcare client.
The motive behind the alleged crime remains unclear, though investigators have suggested that a back injury and related medical care may have been contributing factors.
Criminal justice expert Steve Meacham, speaking to The Epoch Times, characterized the case as an example of the unpredictable nature of alleged criminal behavior. He suggested Mangione probably “has an ax to grind and retaliated in anger.”
In response to Thompson’s death, UnitedHealth Group CEO Andrew Witty wrote an emotional tribute, describing the killing as an “unconscionable act” that has left Thompson’s family, friends, and colleagues in profound grief.
“As Brian Thompson’s family, friends and colleagues mourn his killing, we are bearing a grief and sadness we will carry for the rest of our lives,” Witty wrote, according to The Epoch Times. “Grief for the family he leaves behind. And grief for a brilliant, kind man who was working to make health care better for everyone.”
Witty also addressed the broader issues facing the U.S. healthcare system, acknowledging its flaws while emphasizing UnitedHealth Group’s commitment to improvement. “No one would design a system like the one we have. And no one did. It’s a patchwork built over decades,” he stated, adding that the company’s “mission is to help make it work better.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.