Luigi Mangione, the man accused of fatally shooting UnitedHealthcare chief executive Brian Thompson in Manhattan last year, is expected to plead guilty in his federal case, a move that would resolve charges carrying a potential life sentence without parole.
Mangione’s defense lawyers are set to meet with federal prosecutors as discussions over a plea arrangement advance, according to people familiar with the matter. He faces two federal stalking counts alongside firearms and other charges tied to the December 2024 killing.
Thompson, 50, was shot outside a Midtown Manhattan hotel where UnitedHealthcare was holding an investor conference. The daylight attack drew national attention and set off a multi-day manhunt that ended with Mangione’s arrest at a Pennsylvania fast-food restaurant.
The case has proceeded on parallel tracks in state and federal court. Mangione has separately faced a first-degree murder charge in New York, where prosecutors have pursued a terrorism-related enhancement. A guilty plea in the federal matter would mark a significant turn in a prosecution that has been closely watched since his arrest.
Federal prosecutors have signaled they may seek the death penalty in the case, adding weight to any negotiations. The stalking charges alone carry a maximum penalty of life in prison without the possibility of parole.
The shooting exposed deep public anger toward the U.S. health insurance industry, with some segments of the public casting Mangione as a symbol of frustration over denied claims and coverage disputes. Others condemned the killing as an act of targeted violence against a corporate executive.
Mangione, a 27-year-old Ivy League graduate from a prominent Maryland family, has attracted an unusually large following since his arrest, with supporters attending court appearances and contributing to his legal defense.
Details of the anticipated plea, including whether it would encompass both the federal and state proceedings, remain unclear. The outcome of the negotiations is expected to shape the trajectory of one of the most high-profile criminal cases in the United States in recent years.