Briana Boston.Photo:Lakeland Police Dept.
Lakeland Police Dept.
A Florida woman was taken into custody after she allegedly threatened her health insurance provider in a phone call after being denied medical claims.
The case came to light on Tuesday, Dec. 10, when the FBI reached out to the Lakeland Police Department about an alleged threat over the phone.
Boston allegedly contacted Blue Cross Blue Shield that same day about recent medical insurance claims she’d been denied.
“Near the end of the call, Boston stated in sum and substance, ‘Delay, deny, depose. You people are next,'” according to the affidavit.
The phone call was allegedly recorded.
The words are similar to the engravings with the words “deny,” “defend,” and “depose” found at the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Those words echoed “Deny, delay, defend,” a phrase about the insurance industry to describe a strategy of rejecting claims.
University of Pennsylvania graduateLuigi Mangioneis the prime suspect in the slaying of Thompson.
Boston spoke to police after the incident and apologized, stating she “used those words because it’s what is in the news right now,” per the affidavit.
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“Boston advised she learned of the phrase because of the current events regarding the UnitedHealthcare homicide,” according to the affidavit. “Boston further stated the healthcare companies played games and deserve karma from the world because they are evil.”
Blue Cross Blue Shield couldn’t be reached for comment.
It is unclear if Boston has entered a plea or retained an attorney.
source: people.com
