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The Department of Justice has announced the arrest of a man accused of cyberstalking a family member of murdered UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

Some shit you should know before you read: In case you forgot, Brian Thompson was the CEO of UnitedHealthcare until he was fatally shot outside a Manhattan hotel on December 4, 2024, in what police allege was a targeted attack by 26-year-old Luigi Mangione. Investigators say they recovered a 3D-printed “ghost gun” and suppressor matching the murder weapon, shell casings at the scene inscribed with words like “delay” and “deny,” and a manifesto criticizing the healthcare industry. Authorities believe Mangione’s motive stemmed from resentment toward UnitedHealthcare’s high claim-denial rate (reported at roughly one in three claims in 2023) and personal frustrations he aired online about his medical issues as the reason for the attack.

What’s going on now: In a press release, the DOJ confirmed the arrest of Shane Daley, a 40-year-old man from Galway, New York, on federal cyberstalking charges in connection with a campaign of harassment directed at the grieving family of Brian Thompson. According to the criminal complaint, Daley allegedly placed multiple calls between December 4 and 7, targeting a work phone line used by a family member of Thompson, just hours after the executive’s high-profile killing in Midtown Manhattan. In those voicemail messages, authorities say Daley used threatening and graphic language, expressing joy over Thompson’s death and stating that the victim’s children “deserved to meet the same violent end.”

Daley now faces up to five years in federal prison, a potential $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release if convicted. He was scheduled to be arraigned before US Magistrate Judge Daniel J. Stewart in Albany.

Reactions from officials:
In a statement, Jay Clayton, United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, said: “As alleged, Daley threatened and harassed a grieving family in the immediate aftermath of a loved one’s murder. These selfish, harmful, and callous actions undermine public safety and will not be tolerated. This Office, together with our law enforcement partners, will pursue and prosecute those who seek to intimidate victims and their families. We are grateful to be working on this case alongside the Northern District of New York.”

Christopher G. Raia, Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), said: “Shane Daley allegedly repeatedly harassed the grieving family of Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare gunned down in New York City. The recurrent calls and messages in the days following Brian Thompson’s murder were more than callous and cold-hearted harassment – they were threatening and terrified a family already suffering following the violent death of their loved one. The FBI will continue to bring to justice any individual attempting to stalk and harass innocent Americans.”