Luigi Mangione is reportedly expected to plead guilty to charges related to the 2024 killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in a New York federal court Friday.
Mangione, 28, faces two charges of stalking resulting in death, which carry a maximum sentence of life in prison. It’s unclear whether Mangione will plead guilty to one or both charges.
Earlier this week, lawyers for Mangione unexpectedly asked a federal judge to convene a pretrial hearing in the case for Friday morning. Sources told NBC News Thursday that federal prosecutors have been discussing a potential plea deal with defense lawyers.
The Independent has asked Mangione’s lawyer for comment.
Details of the alleged plea deal have not been made public and its contents are subject to change up until Mangione enters a plea before a judge.
open image in galleryBut if true, Mangione’s reported guilty plea would occur less than a month before he is scheduled to go to trial in New York state criminal court on separate charges stemming from the same incident.
In New York criminal court, Mangione has pleaded not guilty to eight charges, including second-degree murder and criminal possession of a weapon. The charges carry a possibility of life in prison.
Should Mangione take a plea deal, and a federal judge accepts it, his lawyers are likely to try and get state charges tossed out as well.
From the start of the cases, Mangione’s defense team has argued that the charges brought in federal and state court amounted to double jeopardy – or the prosecution of a person twice for the same offenses.
Already, Mangione’s lawyers have managed to narrow the charges against their client.
open image in galleryFederal prosecutors had originally sought to bring the death penalty against Mangione by charging him with using a firearm to commit murder. It was part of a directive by President Donald Trump to renew pushes for capital punishment.
But earlier this year, a federal judge dismissed two charges, including the one carrying the death penalty, against Mangione.
A judge overseeing Mangione’s state case also dismissed two charges brought by state prosecutors, first-degree murder and a state terrorism charge.
Mangione is accused of fatally shooting Thompson, 50, outside of a midtown Manhattan on the morning of December 4, 2024, hours before Thompson was slated to attend an annual investors meeting.
Law enforcement officials engaged in a multi-state, days-long manhunt for Mangione, which captured the nation’s attention.
open image in galleryProsecutors allege Mangione shot Thompson, driven by anger at the U.S. healthcare industry. Bullet casings found after the shooting reportedly had the words “deny,” “delay,” and “depose” written on them, referencing an alleged tactic used by insurance companies to deny claims.
Even after his arrest, people have been captivated by Mangione. The 28-year-old has amassed a large fan base that is consistently present at his pretrial hearings wearing Luigi t-shirts and holding supportive signs.
Fans have donated more than $1.5 million to Mangione’s legal defense fund and sent long letters to the jail where he is being held.