Briana Boston, Lakeland, Florida woman arrested for ‘threatening’ Blue Cross Blue Shield after denied medical claim after using the words, ‘Delay, deny, depose,’ while on the phone with an agent.
Did Florida authorities go too far arresting a woman exasperated after having a medical claim denied?
A Florida woman is alleged to have threatened a health insurance provider while on the phone ‘with violence’ after she was denied an insurance claim.
Briana Boston, 42, of Lakeland, was arrested on Tuesday and charged with making threats to conduct a mass shooting or an act of terrorism after she was recorded telling an agent, ‘Delay, deny, depose. You people are next,’ FOX 13 reported.
What’s in the words, ‘delay, deny and depose?’
The words, ‘delay,’ ‘deny’ and ‘depose’ are the same words found etched on shell casings in the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO, Brian Thompson, 50, last week allegedly at the hands of 26 year old man, Luigi Mangione outside of midtown Manhattan, Hilton Hotel.
Boston, upset about being denied medical claims is alleged to have used the health insurance CEO’s murder as an attempt to threaten the company according to the Lakeland Police Department.
When Lakeland officers went to Boston’s home on December 10, she allegedly admitted to making the threat and apologized, while asserting that she ‘hadn’t really meant it,’ WFLA reported.
Boston also told police she does not own firearms and is not dangerous.
An arrest affidavit revealed Boston allegedly saying healthcare companies ‘deserved karma from the world because they are evil’ and play games.
‘She’s been in this world long enough that she certainly should know better that you can’t make threats like that in the current environment that we live in and think that we’re not going to follow up and put you in jail,’ said Lakeland Police Chief Sam Taylor.
Appearing in court this week, Boston’s attorney asked a judge to release her on her own recognizance, but the judge set bond at $100,000, saying it was ‘appropriate considering the status of our country at this point.’
Solidarity with those who are sick of the rich and powerful being able to play by their own rules. When they say “delay, deny, depose” it’s just good business, but when we say it, it’s “violence”. Free Briana!
Briana Bostons Bond https://t.co/ngJrox5eWv
— My Gay Marriage (@MyGayMarriage) December 13, 2024
Health insurance industry braces itself for possible copycat shootings
Boston’s arrest comes days after Mangione, an Ivy League graduate, was arrested on Monday and charged with the healthcare executive’s murder.
At the time of his arrest, Mangione was found to be in possession of a manifesto in which he called the for profit health insurance industry, ‘parasites,’ pointing out the extravagant cost of coverage, claims that are often denied, leading to some policy holders going into financial ruin and or death, all the while the industry ekes out multi-billion profits.
Investigators have since said that Mangione — who was suffering great back pain, necessitating having 4 screws placed at the base of his spine — was not a client of UnitedHealthcare, and his writings appear to show a general antipathy toward the insurance giants.
Reactions to Thompson’s murder have led to some on social media hailing Mangione as a ‘hero’ while others condemned the act of violence.
Of note, Mangione on some social media postings had highlighted comments which assert real change can sometimes only come with violence.
In the wake of Thompson’s slaying, UnitedHealthcare removed the pictures and names of its executives from its website, for fear of copycat shootings amid public angst and furore the shooting has evoked.
Fears of copycat actors have led other insurance companies, including some Blue Cross Blue Shield plans, and pharmacies to do the same.
