Luigi Mangione pleads guilty to federal stalking charges in killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO

Luigi Mangione has pleaded guilty to federal charges of stalking leading to death in the 2024 killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. In his statement to the court, Mangione admitted to shooting and killing Thompson outside the Marriot hotel in Midtown Manhattan where Thompson was to attend an investor meeting. He also admitted to learning Thompson’s exact location by posing as an investor with billions in capital to invest.

The maximum sentence for this crime is life in prison but prosecutors have recommended 24-30 years in prison. The judge informed Mangione that the prosecutors’ recommendation is not binding and that the judge could still impose the maximum sentence. He will be sentenced in December.

Mangione’s guilty plea to state charges could complicate the state murder charges against him. His attorneys are arguing that trying Mangione for the same crime after his guilty plea would violate double jeopardy. His lawyers have already filed to have state charges dismissed, and state prosecutors have said they will fight the motion.

The state case has already suffered setbacks after evidence was thrown out because the officers who arrested Mangione in Pennsylvania did not properly Mirandize him or secure evidence found on his person.