Manhattan defendant expected to enter federal guilty plea in UnitedHealthcare CEO murder case

Luigi Mangione, 28, is expected to plead guilty on Friday to federal stalking-related charges tied to the December 2024 shooting death of UnitedHealthcare chief Brian Thompson in Manhattan, sources said. The plea comes weeks before his state murder trial, where he faces eight felony counts including second-degree murder and weapons offenses.

Mangione’s attorneys declined to comment, and both the Justice Department and a court spokesperson did not respond to inquiries. Details of the plea have not been disclosed, and Mangione could withdraw the plea at any point during the hearing.

If convicted on the federal charges, Mangione faces a potential life sentence. Legal analysts note that a federal plea could bar a subsequent state prosecution for the same conduct under New York law. The Justice Department originally sought the death penalty, but a federal judge blocked that request earlier this year.

Should Mangione secure a guilty plea, his lawyers intend to request dismissal of some or all state charges, with jury selection for the state case scheduled to begin next month. The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office declined to comment on the ongoing negotiations.

"If a plea deal is reached in the federal case, New York law may bar a subsequent state prosecution for the same conduct," said legal analyst Danny Cevallos.

Mangione was arrested in Altoona, Pennsylvania, after a multi-state manhunt following surveillance footage of the shooting outside the Hilton Hotel. Prosecutors say a notebook recovered at his arrest contained plans to kill Thompson. The case has sparked broader discussion about healthcare costs in the United States.