Luigi Mangione is expected to plead guilty on Friday to federal charges in the 2024 killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO , according to multiple reports citing sources. The expected plea arrangement comes weeks before jury selection is scheduled to begin in the New York State murder case.
NBC News reported that Mangione spoke with his attorneys on Thursday morning at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn before his federal court hearing in Manhattan on Friday.
In his federal case, Mangione, 28, faces two stalking resulting in death crimes; it is unknown if he will enter a guilty plea to one or both of these accusations. Mangione may change his mind at any moment, including during the hearing, even though the specifics of his plea are not yet known.
A separate state trial regarding Thompson’s death is also pending for Mangione.
A guilty plea could have a big impact on the concurrent state prosecution, according to legal experts, even if the precise details of the proposed plea deal are yet unknown.
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Could the state murder case be dismissed?
One of the biggest legal questions is whether a federal guilty plea could prevent New York from trying Mangione on murder charges.
NBC News legal analyst Danny Cevallos said New York law could bar a subsequent state prosecution for the same conduct under certain circumstances. Mangione’s lawyers have previously argued that pursuing both cases amounts to double jeopardy.
However, experts have speculated that the issue is far from settled. Prosecutors could argue that the federal and state cases involve different criminal conduct. The federal indictment focuses on alleged interstate stalking, while the state indictment centers on intentional murder and separate weapons-related offenses.
Lauren Conlin, a true crime contributor to LA Mag, highlighted a legal analysis. She wrote on X, “Let’s say, hypothetically, the state murder trial doesn’t happen because of double jeopardy ….he could potentially still take Mangione to trial on the state weapons charge alone (no firearms charge federally anymore).”
She noted that any resulting sentence could potentially run consecutively rather than concurrently.
However, this remains hypothetical and would depend on future court rulings.
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How does the plea matter?
Mangione previously pleaded guilty to eight felony counts in New York. These include second-degree murder and multiple weapons charges.
If convicted in state court, Mangione stands to face life imprisonment. In the federal case, the Justice Department initilally pursued the death penalty. But a federal judge ruled in January that capital punishment would not be available. A conviction in the federal case could still result in a life sentence.
Authorities have alleged that Mangione fatally shot Thompson in Midtown Manhattan. A widespread manhunt ended days later at a McDonald’s restaurant in Altoona, Pennsylvania, with Mangione’s arrest. Prosecutors have said investigators recovered a notebook allegedly outlining plans to target Thompson.
Mangione has drawn supporters to several court appearances, with some portraying him as a symbol of frustration over healthcare costs. Prosecutors, however, continue to argue that the case concerns the targeted killing of an individual and should be judged on the evidence presented in court.
