Luigi Mangione, the man accused of killing Brian Thompson, chief executive of UnitedHealth Insurance under UnitedHealth Group, pleaded guilty in his federal criminal case, according to CCTV International News in a report carried by Odaily.
The plea agreement means the closely watched case will not move into a federal trial. It could also allow Mangione to seek dismissal of the murder charge filed in New York state court and push back the state trial that is now set to begin on September 8.
Federal case avoids trial
Mangione is facing charges at both the federal and state levels. In January, a judge dismissed the federal murder charge and firearms-related counts against him. That ruling removed the possibility that Mangione could face the death penalty in the federal case.
Even so, he still faces serious exposure in federal court. If the remaining two federal stalking charges are upheld, he could still receive a sentence of life in prison without parole.
State charges remain in place
At the state level, Mangione had previously been charged with second-degree murder, illegal possession of a weapon, possession of false identification, and other offenses. He has said he is not guilty of those charges.
Resolving the federal case first may give Mangione a path to ask the New York court to throw out the second-degree murder count under a state law designed to protect individuals from being prosecuted twice for the same act. Prosecutors are expected to oppose that move.
The state trial is scheduled for September 8. If Mangione is convicted of second-degree murder, he could face a sentence ranging from 25 years to life in prison.
Shooting and arrest timeline
On December 4, 2024, Thompson was shot and killed outside a hotel in Manhattan, New York City. According to the report, a masked gunman waited outside the hotel in advance, fired several shots after Thompson arrived, and then fled the scene.
Five days later, Mangione was arrested in Pennsylvania. He was later charged with murder and other offenses and has appeared in court multiple times since then.