Judge Dismisses Death Penalty Charges Against Luigi Mangione in UnitedHealthcare CEO Case

A federal judge in New York has ruled that prosecutors cannot seek the death penalty against Luigi Mangione, who is accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in December 2024. U.S. District Judge Margaret Garnett dismissed the federal murder charge that enabled capital punishment, citing technical flaws in the charge.

Mangione, 27, still faces two federal stalking charges, each carrying a maximum sentence of life imprisonment without parole. Judge Garnett stated, "This case will proceed to trial on Counts One and Two, which charge the Defendant with causing Brian Thompson’s death under two federal stalking laws."

The judge's decision challenges the Trump administration's attempt to pursue the death penalty in this case. Prosecutors have not yet announced if they will appeal the ruling.

In a separate state case, Mangione faces second-degree murder and other charges. In September 2025, a New York state judge dismissed terrorism-related charges against him, ruling that the charges were "legally insufficient."

Mangione has pleaded not guilty to all charges in both federal and state cases. Jury selection for the federal trial is scheduled to begin on September 8, 2026, with testimony expected to start in October.