Accused UnitedHealthcare CEO Killer Luigi Mangione Expected to Plead Guilty to Federal Charges in Apparent Bid to Avoid Death Penalty

Luigi Mangione is expected to plead guilty to federal charges in connection with the death of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in an apparent bid to avoid the death penalty.

Mangione, 28, is set to appear in Manhattan federal court on the morning of Friday, August 14, where he currently faces two counts of stalking resulting in death amid accusations he murdered the CEO on a New York sidewalk in December 2024.

The accused killer would likely still face a potential life sentence with the plea, though the idea is that Judge Margaret Garnet would rule a less harsh sentence with the admission of guilt, sources told the NY Post on Thursday, August 13.

However, insiders warned that Mangione could still decide against the guilty plea before Friday's court appearance.

The deal could affect the ongoing separate state case, set to go to trial on September 8, where he faces several counts of second-degree murder and criminal possession of a weapon, which could lead to a possible sentence of 25 years to life. State terrorism-related murder charges were also initially brought against him, but a judge dismissed them in September 2025.

Mangione has been behind bars at a federal jail in Brooklyn, N.Y., since his arrest on December 9, 2024, five days after the fatal shooting.

Mangione was accused of following the healthcare CEO to a New York City hotel, where a business conference was set to take place, and shooting him from behind with a handgun outside the building.

Surveillance footage captured a hooded individual approaching Thompson before opening fire. Authorities tracked Mangione to a Pennsylvania McDonald's on December 9, 2024, where he was allegedly found with a handgun in his backpack.

Mangione previously pleaded not guilty to all charges in both cases, with lawyers being successful in taking capital punishment off the table.

He could still face a maximum sentence of life without parole in federal prison if convicted, though experts suspect he would most likely avoid a stiff sentence due to his background.

"Rarely somebody with no background, who’s educated, gets the maximum sentences," Chicago criminal defense attorney Donna Rotunno,told Fox News on Thursday, August 13. "Is he looking at minimum sentences? No. But at the end of the day, he’s benefiting from more serious charges being dismissed."