Shane Daley, a 40-year-old resident of Galway, New York, pleaded guilty on Mar. 19 to cyberstalking after sending harassing and threatening voicemail messages to a family member of Brian Thompson, the murdered CEO of UnitedHealthcare.
Daley admitted that between December 4 and 7, 2024, he made multiple calls to a work phone line used by one of Thompson’s relatives. The voicemails included threats and harassing language focused on Thompson’s killing. Daley expressed satisfaction over the murder and stated that the victim and Thompson’s children deserved similar violence.
First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III said: “Shane Daley celebrated the cold-blooded murder of Brian Thompson and senselessly tried to maximize the Thompson family’s suffering. Today’s guilty plea demonstrates that federal law enforcement will not tolerate such sickening conduct. I commend the hard work of the FBI and members of my office and the Southern District of New York for bringing Daley to justice.”
Jay Clayton, United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, said: “Shane Daley’s conviction is just and sends two important messages. We will protect victims – Daley tormented the family of Brian Thompson, CEO of UnitedHealthcare, after Thompson’s 2024 murder. This reprehensible conduct demands swift justice. Also, and more broadly, threats and other acts of violence, particularly when motivated by commercial, social, political, or religious factors, are not acceptable in our free society. Freedom means freedom from violence. We thank the women and men of the Northern District for protecting those freedoms. Today’s federal conviction reflects the grave and calculated nature of Daley’s criminal actions and underscores this Office’s unwavering commitment to aggressively prosecuting those who target and terrorize victims through stalking and harassment. This outcome was achieved in close partnership with the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York, demonstrating the strength of coordinated federal efforts to hold offenders accountable and protect victims.”
James C. Barnacle, Jr., Assistant Director in Charge at the FBI's New York Office said: “Just hours after Brian Thompson’s brutal public murder, Shane Daley repeatedly terrorized a grieving family by glorifying the loss of their loved one and threatening similar fates. The FBI does not tolerate those who hide behind screens and keyboards to exploit the suffering of others for senseless torment.”
Sentencing is set for July 17 before United States District Judge Anne M. Nardacci. Daley faces up to five years in prison as well as a fine up to $250,000 and supervised release up to three years.
