Luigi Mangione is expected to plead guilty Friday in federal court to charges alleging he stalked and killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Sources say there is no plea agreement, meaning Mangione could face life in prison. The federal plea could complicate a separate state murder prosecution set for trial on Sept. 8. Several charges in both the federal and state cases have been narrowed or dismissed by judges over the past year.
Luigi Mangione Expected To Plead Guilty In Federal Stalking And Murder Case In Death Of UnitedHealthcare CEO
David Dee Delgado/POOL/AFP via Getty Images - PHOTO: Luigi Mangione, accused of the murder of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson, appears for a pre-trial hearing at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York, on August 11, 2026.
Luigi Mangione is expected to enter a guilty plea Friday in federal court to charges accusing him of stalking and murdering UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, sources told ABC News. Prosecutors say there is no plea agreement, meaning Mangione could face life in prison if he proceeds with the plea.
Background: Authorities say Mangione fatally shot Thompson on Dec. 4, 2024, in Midtown Manhattan. He was captured in Pennsylvania after a five-day manhunt. Manhattan prosecutors initially indicted Mangione on first-degree murder charges on Dec. 17, 2024; federal prosecutors filed separate stalking and murder charges on Dec. 19, 2024.
How The Federal Plea Could Affect The State Case
A federal guilty plea could complicate a separate state prosecution slated for trial beginning Sept. 8. Defense lawyers previously asked a state judge to dismiss the state murder charges on double jeopardy grounds, arguing the federal prosecution covers the same conduct. The Manhattan District Attorney's Office has said it will proceed, asserting the federal stalking and murder allegations address different legal harms than the state charges.
Court Developments: Over the past year several charges in both prosecutions have been narrowed or dismissed by judges. In January, U.S. District Judge Margaret Garnett dismissed the federal murder and firearms counts that had exposed Mangione to potential capital punishment. In the state case, Judge Gregory Carro dismissed first-degree murder and terrorism counts last September. Mangione still faces second-degree murder, multiple weapon-possession counts and a charge of criminal possession of a forged instrument in state court.
Hearing Details and Attendance: The federal plea hearing is scheduled for 11 a.m. Friday in Manhattan. Family members of Brian Thompson — including his widow — and UnitedHealthcare executives are expected to attend, while sources say members of Mangione's family are not expected to be present. A judge has ordered an anonymous jury for the state proceedings because of concerns about harassment or intimidation.
Procedural Notes: Mangione previously pleaded not guilty in both the federal and state cases and at one point backed out of a planned plea. Federal prosecutors have indicated there is no plea deal in place for the anticipated federal plea, according to sources.
Note: This report reflects developments reported to ABC News and court actions through the most recent hearings; further filings or court rulings could affect charges and potential penalties.
Help us improve.
