Luigi Mangione pleaded guilty on Friday to federal charges of stalking in connection with the 2024 killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
Standing in a federal courtroom in Manhattan as Thompson’s family watched, Mangione,28, told District Judge Margaret M. Garnett that he pleads guilty to two counts of stalking resulting in death. Each count carries a maximum sentence of life in prison. The judge set his sentencing hearing for Dec. 18.
At the judge’s request, Mangione described his criminal actions. He said he suffered from back pain for years, and learned that UnitedHealthcare planned to hold a conference in Manhattan attended by executives and that doctors, nurses and patients would not be there. He said he emailed leadership posing as an investor and that he 3D-printed the gun he used to shoot Thompson. He said he knew Thompson would be afraid, and he knew what he was doing was illegal.
Mangione had previously pleaded not guilty in the federal case. He also faces charges in New York state, including second-degree murder, for Thompson’s fatal shooting outside a hotel in Manhattan on Dec. 4, 2024. He has pleaded not guilty to the state charges.
Mangione’s lawyers have long argued that prosecuting him on both state and federal charges violates his rights. With his federal plea in place, his lawyers could seek to postpone or dismiss his state case on double jeopardy grounds. New York has an extensive double-jeopardy law, which precludes a person from being tried twice for the same alleged conduct.
Mangione’s New York trial is scheduled to begin in September. If convicted, he faces the possibility of life in prison.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
The post Luigi Mangione pleads guilty to federal charges in UnitedHealthcare CEO killing appeared first on MS NOW.
