Luigi Mangione, the man accused of fatally shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in a brazen Midtown Manhattan attack, pleaded guilty Friday to federal stalking charges in connection with the killing.
Standing before U.S. District Judge Margaret Garnett in New York, Mangione admitted his role in the December 4, 2024, assassination.
“In November of 2024 I traveled from outside of New York state to Manhattan. I then emailed UnitedHealthcare leadership, posing as an investor at a firm managing over $15 billion in assets and requesting information about the conference. Unlike my previous interactions with insurers, I received an immediate response within an hour,” Mangione said.
The guilty plea covers federal counts related to stalking that resulted in Thompson’s death.
Prosecutors outlined evidence, including security footage showing Mangione arriving in New York by bus on November 24, 2024, and trailing Thompson through Midtown in the days leading up to the shooting.
Video also captured Thompson being shot, turning to face his attacker, and being struck a second time.
Footage also showed Thompson “get shot, turn around, and face the defendant as he got shot a second time,” Gentile said.
Mangione’s defense confirmed there is no plea agreement with the government and no deal on a sentencing range.
Judge Garnett accepted the plea after confirming Mangione understood he faces a maximum of life in prison with no parole in the federal system.
He would likely serve at least 85 percent of any sentence, potentially followed by supervised release and restitution.
Prosecutors estimate guidelines of 292 to 365 months, though the judge will make the final determination.
Sentencing is scheduled for December 18 at 11 a.m. Mangione remains in federal custody.
The federal plea comes as Mangione’s separate state murder case in New York is set for trial next month. He previously pleaded not guilty in both jurisdictions.
Legal observers note that the federal conviction could open the door for defense arguments seeking dismissal of the state charges on double jeopardy grounds, though prosecutors are expected to vigorously oppose any such move.
In court, Mangione referenced years of personal pain from a broken back and claimed he researched UnitedHealthcare’s investor conference after learning of it, determining the location and attendees.
Those statements do nothing to mitigate the calculated nature of the crime: a targeted execution of a corporate executive on a public street in one of America’s busiest cities.
Thompson, a husband and father, was gunned down while heading to a company event.
The attack shocked the business community and highlighted the real-world dangers faced by leaders in the private sector amid rising rhetoric that demonizes American enterprise.
Federal authorities have treated the case as a serious interstate stalking offense that culminated in murder.
By pleading guilty, Mangione has now formally accepted responsibility in the federal system for ending Thompson’s life.
The December sentencing will determine whether he spends the rest of his days behind bars.
Luigi Mangione left the courtroom after he pleaded guilty and the hearing concluded. He will remain in federal custody pending sentencing, which is scheduled for December 18.
Judge Margaret Garnett said if either side intends to present witnesses at sentencing, she would like to be notified two weeks ahead
This outcome delivers a measure of accountability for a cold-blooded killing that left a family devastated and sent a chilling message to corporate America.
Conservatives have long warned that glorifying or excusing violence against business leaders only erodes the rule of law. Mangione’s admission in open court leaves little room for doubt about his guilt.
