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The State Attorney’s Office dropped second-degree felony charges against a Lakeland woman for allegedly making a veiled threat against a health insurance company.
Assistant State Attorney Joseph McCarthy said Briana Boston, 42, “has made a sincere apology in a statement” to Blue Cross Blue Shield and to the company’s representative, and that both BCBS and the representative are “satisfied and not seeking any sanctions against” Boston.
They also cited Boston’s lack of any “criminal history and her sincere remorse regarding her offensive conduct in this incident.”
On Dec. 10, Boston was discussing her medical coverage with a BCBS worker, who informed her that her claim had been turned down. A case filing evaluation from the State Attorney’s Office said she was turned down because she had not updated her information by completing a “coordination of benefits” form.
The arrest affidavit said, “Near the end of the call, Boston stated in sum and substance, ‘Delay, deny, depose. You people are next.’”
Two of those three words — “Delay, Deny” — were etched on bullet shell casings found at the scene of the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York City on Dec. 4.
The words are an apparent reference to tactics used by insurance companies to deny coverage to customers.
A Lakeland Police officer and Federal Bureau of Investigation agents spoke with Boston. LPD forwarded charges against her and a judge confirmed probable cause to proceed.
But BCBS and Boston came to a mutual agreement and McCarthy wrote on Feb. 14 that Boston “will not be prosecuted for this incident.”
Boston could not be reached for comment.
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