LAKELAND, Fla. — A west-Central Florida woman is accused of making threatening statements to a health insurance representative, allegedly repeating words found on the bullet casings used in the murder of an insurance executive in New York City, authorities said.

Briana Donald Boston, 42, of Lakeland, was charged with making threats to kill or injure, or conduct a mass shooting or an act of terrorism, according to Polk County online court records.

On Dec. 10, the FBI contacted officials with the Lakeland Police Department about the threat, USA Today reported, citing a probable cause affidavit. Boston allegedly called BlueCross BlueShield over recent medical claims that were denied, according to the newspaper.

While challenging the company’s denial of her claim, Boston allegedly told the representative in a telephone call, “Delay, deny, depose. You people are next” as they ended a phone call on Dec. 10, The Associated Press reported, citing a recording from Lakeland police.

The phrase, “Deny, delay, depose,” began trending last week after those words were found on shell casings from bullets used to kill UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson as he walked to a conference, WTVT reported.

Following a search that took several days, police in Altoona, Pennsylvania, arrested Luigi Mangione after receiving a tip from a McDonald’s employee, USA Today reported. Mangione was charged with murder and several gun-related felonies.

Police said that when Boston was questioned by officers on Wednesday, she allegedly used the “Three D’s” because “it is what is in the news right now,” according to the AP.

She told officers that she did not own any guns. But while speaking to the police, Boston added that health care insurance companies “played games” and “deserved karma from the world because they are evil,” USA Today reported.

“I think it’s an overcharge. In reality, there’s nothing in her communication that specifically says she’s going to commit a mass shooting,” attorney Anthony Rickman, who is not representing Boston, told WTVT. “I think it more falls on the free speech line, on protected speech. Although stupid, although ignorant, something you shouldn’t say, the law allows you to say stupid, ignorant things, and even violent things, as long as it’s not what’s considered a true threat.”

“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,” Lakeland Police Chief Sam Taylor told WFLA. “She readily admitted that, ‘Yeah that’s exactly what I said but I didn’t mean anything by it.’ “Well, you don’t get to pull that back after you say it.”

Boston’s bond was set at $100,000, the television station reported. She will be arraigned on Jan. 14, 2025, at the main courthouse in Bartow, court records show.

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