Mangione Pleads Guilty to Federal Charges in Killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson

Luigi Mangione pleaded guilty Friday, Aug. 14, to two federal charges stemming from the December 2024 killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in Manhattan.

Mangione pleaded guilty in federal court in New York to interstate stalking resulting in death and stalking through use of interstate facilities resulting in death. During the hearing, he acknowledged shooting Thompson and said he understood that his actions could cause fear of death or bodily injury.

Mangione said he began researching UnitedHealthcare and its annual investor conference after years of back pain and difficulties navigating the health insurance system. He told the court that he posed as an investor to obtain information about the conference and later traveled to New York, where he said he 3-D printed a gun and equipped it with a silencer.

Thompson was shot and killed outside a Midtown Manhattan hotel on Dec. 4, 2024. He was survived by his wife and two teenage sons.

Thompson’s family said Mangione’s guilty plea was “an important step toward justice” and expressed hope that his sentence would reflect the severity of the crime. UnitedHealth Group, UnitedHealthcare’s parent company, also said it was grateful to law enforcement for bringing Thompson’s alleged killer to justice.

Mangione faces up to life in federal prison, with sentencing scheduled for Dec. 18. He also faces murder charges in New York state court, where jury selection is scheduled to begin Sept. 8.

Following the federal plea, Mangione’s attorneys filed a motion arguing that the state prosecution violates constitutional protections against double jeopardy. The claim has previously been unsuccessful, but his lawyers contend that the federal conviction changes the circumstances. The motion could also delay the state trial if it is appealed.

Mangione has been held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn since his arrest.