A Florida woman accused of threatening insurance company, saying, ‘Delay, deny, depose. You people are next’

A Florida woman has been arrested and charged after allegedly making threats during a phone call with her health insurance provider, reportedly echoing language associated with the recent shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

The incident occurred on Tuesday when Briana Boston, a 42-year-old resident of Lakeland, was speaking with a Blue Cross Blue Shield representative about a denied medical claim. According to an arrest affidavit obtained by ABC News, Boston ended the call by saying, "Delay, deny, depose. You people are next," a statement captured on the recorded conversation.

Authorities noted the similarity between Boston's words and the phrases engraved on bullet casings found at the scene of the shooting that killed Thompson earlier this month. The casings were inscribed with the words "deny," "defend," and "depose," phrases that align with the title of the 2010 book Delay, Deny, Defend: Why Insurance Companies Don’t Pay Claims and What You Can Do About It. Written by legal scholar Jay Feinman, the book critiques practices by insurance companies to avoid settling valid claims.

Police said Boston admitted to using the phrases because they had been prominent in recent news. She apologized when questioned, adding that she owns no firearms and does not pose a threat. However, she described health insurance companies as "evil" and said they "deserve karma," according to the affidavit.

Boston has been charged with making threats to conduct a mass shooting or act of terrorism. She was taken to a Polk County jail following her arrest. ABC News has reached out to Blue Cross Blue Shield for comment.