Home US News Florida Florida woman accused of menacing health insurance firm with ‘delay, deny, depose’ tactic

Florida woman accused of menacing health insurance firm with ‘delay, deny, depose’ tactic

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LAKELAND, Fla. — Authorities have charged a woman from Florida for allegedly making threats towards her health insurance company during a phone call. The incident is said to echo unsettling words linked with a recent murder case involving an insurance executive in New York.

Briana Boston, 42, reportedly ended a conversation with a representative from Blue Cross Blue Shield by saying, “Delay, deny, depose. You people are next.” This exchange occurred during a call on Tuesday where she was trying to contest the denial of her insurance claim, as per the Lakeland police who have a recording of the interaction. The phrases “delay,” “deny,” and “depose” were also found inscribed on the bullet casings at the location where UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was fatally shot on December 4 in New York City. These words highlight the common tactics some insurance companies adopt in response to large claims: to delay their decision, deny the claim, and then vigorously defend the refusal.

The murder of Thompson has led to the arrest of 26-year-old Luigi Mangione, who faces murder charges in this case.

Upon being questioned by the police on Wednesday, Boston reportedly explained that she used those words because they are prevalent in news reports at the moment. She claims to own no firearms and allegedly stated that insurance companies are “evil” and deserve “karma.”

As a result of her statements, Boston was taken into custody and charged with threatening to commit an act of terrorism. At the Polk County jail, she is being held without bail as of Friday. There is no information in court documents indicating whether she has legal representation, and attempts to reach her through a phone number at her home have been unsuccessful due to disconnection.

This charge, categorized as a second-degree felony, carries a potential sentence of up to 15 years in prison if she is found guilty.