Shane Daley, a 40-year-old resident of Galway, New York, was arrested and charged with cyberstalking after allegedly sending threatening and harassing voicemail messages to a family member of Brian Thompson, the UnitedHealthcare CEO who was recently killed in midtown Manhattan.
According to a criminal complaint, Daley made several calls between December 4 and 7, 2024, just hours after Thompson’s murder. The voicemails reportedly contained language that referenced the killing, expressed satisfaction over Thompson’s death, and included threats directed at the victim and Thompson’s children.
The charges are accusations at this stage. Daley is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III stated: “Brian Thompson was gunned down in midtown Manhattan. Daley, as alleged, gleefully welcomed this tragedy and did all that he could to increase the Thompson family’s pain and suffering. My office and its partners will now do all that we can to hold him accountable for this vicious and outrageous conduct.”
Jay Clayton, United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, commented: “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 from the FBI added: “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.”
If convicted on the charge filed against him, Daley faces up to five years in prison, a fine as high as $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release. Sentencing would be determined by a judge based on federal statutes as well as sentencing guidelines.
Daley is scheduled for arraignment today at 2 p.m. before United States Magistrate Judge Daniel J. Stewart in Albany.
The investigation is being conducted by the FBI. Prosecutors from both the Northern District of New York (Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua R. Rosenthal) and Southern District of New York (Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dominic A. Gentile and Jun Xiang) are handling the case.
