Shane Daley, a 40-year-old resident of Galway, New York, was arrested and charged with cyberstalking after allegedly sending threatening voicemail messages to a family member of Brian Thompson, the UnitedHealthcare CEO who was recently killed in midtown Manhattan.
According to the criminal complaint, Daley is accused of making several calls between December 4 and 7, 2024—beginning just hours after Thompson’s murder—to a work phone line used by one of Thompson’s family members. The voicemails reportedly contained harassing language that referenced the killing and expressed satisfaction about it. Daley also allegedly threatened that the victim and Thompson’s children deserved similar violence.
The charges are accusations at this stage. Daley is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III commented: “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, stated: “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 at the FBI’s New York Office 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.”
If convicted on these charges, Daley faces up to five years in prison along with a possible $250,000 fine and up to three years supervised release. Sentencing would depend on federal guidelines as well as other factors determined by a judge.
Daley is scheduled for arraignment today at 2 p.m., before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daniel J. Stewart in Albany.
The investigation is being led by the FBI. Prosecutors from both Northern District (Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua R. Rosenthal) and Southern District (Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dominic A. Gentile and Jun Xiang) are handling the case.
