Galway man charged with cyberstalking family of killed UnitedHealthcare CEO

GALWAY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — The U.S. Attorney’s Office (USAO) announced that a Saratoga County man was arrested on Wednesday for reportedly harassing a family member of former UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, who was killed in New York City at the end of last year. Shane Daley, 40, of Galway, was charged with cyberstalking.

Daley is accused of leaving a series of malicious and threatening voicemail messages on the work phone line of a member of Thompson’s family between December 4 and 7, 2024, the first of which was placed within hours of the CEO’s death, according to the USAO. Daley’s messages allegedly expressed contentment with Thompson’s death as well as a desire for Thompson’s children to be killed in the same manner as their father.

“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,” Acting U.S. Attorney John Sarcone III stated. “My office and its partners will now do all that we can to hold him accountable for this vicious and outrageous conduct.”

“Shane Daley allegedly repeatedly harassed the grieving family of Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare gunned down in New York City,” said Christopher Raia, Assistant Director of the New York Office of the FBI. “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.”

Daley faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison, a fine up to $250,000, and up to three years of probation if convicted. The FBI is heading the case’s investigation.