Luigi Mangione pleads guilty to federal stalking charges, setting up December sentencing
NEW YORK — Luigi Mangione pleaded guilty Friday to federal stalking charges stemming from the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, an unexpected turn in court that will let the 28-year-old avoid a federal trial and could have major implications for the separate murder case pending against him in New York state court.
The plea came during a hearing in Manhattan federal court, where Mangione told U.S. District Judge Margaret Garnett he understood his decision. He admitted to two counts of stalking resulting in death, offenses that each carry a maximum sentence of life in prison. Judge Garnett said the plea was not part of any agreement with prosecutors, but noted that prosecutors had filed a letter suggesting a sentence of 24 to 30 years. She scheduled sentencing for Dec. 18.
Mangione was accused of fatally shooting Thompson on Dec. 4, 2024, outside a Midtown Manhattan hotel where the health care executive was expected to address an investment conference. The shooting plunged the business world into a period of anxiety and triggered a five-day police manhunt that ended at a McDonald's in Altoona, Pennsylvania.
In court, Mangione acknowledged the shooting without elaboration. “I shot Mr. Thompson in Manhattan,” he said. Wearing a tan jumpsuit, he described severe back pain and the trouble he said he encountered navigating the U.S. health care system. He also described planning the attack: researching the conference online, 3D-printing a handgun and traveling to New York City.
“I understood that my actions would place him in fear of death or bodily injury,” he told the judge. “I knew what I was doing was illegal.”
The courtroom was tense as Mangione entered, and an audible gasp cut through the silence. Thompson’s wife, Paulette, sat in the front row and wiped away tears with a tissue while Mangione spoke calmly and matter-of-factly. At one point, Judge Garnett asked him to explain in his own words why he believed he was guilty.
Thompson’s family released a statement calling the plea “an important step toward justice for Brian and for our family.” It added: “While nothing will ease the pain of losing him, we are grateful that the federal justice system has held the person responsible for this heinous act accountable. Now we look to the court to ensure that sentencing reflects the severity of this crime.”
Friday’s plea does not end Mangione’s legal troubles. He was scheduled to stand trial in New York state court on murder and related charges in about a month, and he also faces separate charges in Pennsylvania. Those cases could now be tested by the federal plea: Mangione’s lawyers may argue that New York’s double jeopardy law bars another prosecution for the same conduct. State prosecutors objected to that theory in a July letter, but the issue remains unresolved.
The federal case had already shifted significantly before Friday. Federal prosecutors initially charged Mangione with murder through the use of a firearm and sought the death penalty, but Judge Garnett removed capital punishment from consideration earlier this year when she dismissed the most serious charges. A federal trial had been scheduled to begin in January.
In the state case, Mangione’s defense team had previously signaled it would argue that he suffered from “extreme emotional disturbance” at the time of the shooting, but withdrew that argument in a June letter, according to court filings.
Evidence disputes have also shaped the state proceedings. Acting New York Supreme Court Justice Gregory Carro ruled that certain items from Mangione’s backpack, including a loaded magazine, cell phone and wallet, were blocked from the state trial because Pennsylvania officers conducted a warrantless search. But a gun and a red notebook found during a later search were ruled admissible. Prosecutors have said DNA and ballistics evidence link Mangione to the shooting.
The public response has been deeply polarized. Mangione, an Ivy League graduate, has attracted supporters who view him as a symbol of anger over the U.S. health care system. They have turned up at hearings in T-shirts, contributed to his legal defense and, in some cases, written him personal letters. The killing also led companies across the country to step up security, cancel in-person events and remove top executives’ biographies and photos from their websites.
With the federal plea entered, the coming months will bring two parallel legal fights: sentencing in federal court on Dec. 18, and continued litigation in the state murder case. The outcome of the double jeopardy question could determine whether Mangione’s guilty plea becomes a turning point or just one step in a longer legal journey.