NEW YORK (TNND) — Luigi Mangione pleaded guilty to federal stalking charges in connection with the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson inside a Manhattan courtroom on Friday.
Mangione’s defense team can now attempt a double jeopardy claim with his guilty plea in the federal case in an attempt to avoid a September trial on state charges, though it remains unclear if they would find success.
During Friday’s hearing, Mangione’s lawyer Katen Friedman Agnifilo shared that her client was prepared to plead guilty to the federal indictment.
Mangione was then sworn in under oath and confirmed to the court that his mind was clear and is competent to plead guilty.
Federal prosecutors then agreed, while Mangione told the judge he read the indictment and is satisfied with his legal team.
U.S. District Judge Margaret Garnett then proceeded to explain his rights, with Mangione answering “yes” to all plea-related questions.
Garnett said Mangione could face a maximum sentence of life in prison if he changed his plea, but said she would not be handing down the sentence during Friday’s hearing.
Mangione also confirmed he reviewed a letter from prosecutors with a recommended sentencing range.
Mangione then addressed the court, according to reporters inside of the courtroom.
“After years of enduring severe pain from a broken back, I learned UnitedHealthcare will hold an investor’s conference,” Mangione said, explaining that he researched the location of the conference online.
He said he had a mission of making healthcare “work better for everyone.”
Mangione told the courtroom about posing as an investor to get details on the conference, as well as using a 3-D printer to make the firearm used in the killing.
“On the morning of Dec. 4, 2024, I shot Mr. Thompson in Manhattan,” Mangione said. “I knew what I was doing.”
Mangione is scheduled to go on trial on state murder charges on Sept. 8, but his lawyers could seek to have the state case thrown out on double jeopardy grounds.
Lawyers for Mangione and the Justice Department declined to comment before Friday’s hearing, which was requested by both prosecutors and defense lawyers earlier this week.
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28-year-old Mangione is facing both federal and state charges after allegedly ambushing the 50-year-old healthcare CEO and shooting him to death outside of a hotel in New York City on December 4, 2024.
Mangione’s trial for state murder charges is expected to start next month, though it is unclear if the trial would go forward should he plead guilty in the federal case.
The federal charges include two counts alleging he stalked Thompson to cause his death. Both the state and federal cases could lead to a life sentence after a federal judge removed additional charges earlier this year that would have had Mangione face the potential death penalty.
In February, Mangione expressed discontent about two trials to a judge, telling the court, “It’s the same trial twice. One plus one is two. Double jeopardy by any commonsense definition.”
New York law says a state trial could potentially be barred if the federal case is resolved first. Double jeopardy protections kick in if a jury has been sworn in a prior prosecution, like a federal case, or if it ends in a guilty plea. Mangione’s cases involve different charges coming from the same course of conduct.
Last month, state prosecutors objected in a letter to the possibility of a guilty plea in the federal case wiping out the state case.
In January, Judge Garnett ruled that prosecutors could use items collected from Mangione’s backpack during his arrest at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania, against him.
The items included a 3-D-printed gun and a notebook where authorities said Mangione described his “intent to kill” Thompson.
Surveillance video from the deadly shooting showed a masked man shooting Thompson from behind. New York authorities later reported that “delay,” “deny” and “depose” were written on the bullets.
In June, the defense said they would pursue a psychiatric defense in the state, but reversed course a day later as the defense involving claims he was suffering from “extreme emotional disturbance” isn’t allowed in federal court.
In June, Mangione’s lawyers said they would pursue a psychiatric defense in the state case but reversed course a day later. The defense, involving claims that he was suffering from extreme emotional disturbance at the time of the killing, isn’t allowed in federal court.
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The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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