Luigi Mangione is expected to announce a guilty plea in connection with his federal prosecution during a court conference scheduled for Friday, sources familiar with the matter told ABC News. The announcement is anticipated for 11 a.m. Friday, though the sources cautioned that plans are not final and could change before the hearing.
Neither the prosecution nor defense teams have commented on the situation. If Mangione were to plead guilty in his federal case, his lawyers may seek legal protections under New York's double jeopardy laws to have the state murder charges against him dismissed. The success of such an effort remains uncertain.
Mangione is accused of fatally shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson on Dec. 4, 2024, in Midtown Manhattan. He was apprehended in Pennsylvania after a five-day manhunt. He was indicted on first-degree murder charges by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg on Dec. 17, 2024. Two days later, federal prosecutors announced separate charges of stalking and murder.
Mangione has pleaded not guilty to the charges in both the state and federal cases. Over the past year, the scope of the charges has been narrowed. In January, U.S. District Judge Margaret Garnett dismissed the federal murder and firearm charges, which had carried the possibility of the death penalty. In September, Judge Gregory Carro dismissed first-degree murder and terrorism charges in the state case.
He currently faces two federal charges: stalking through interstate commerce and stalking through the use of interstate facilities. In the state case, the charges include murder in the second degree, criminal possession of a forged instrument in the second degree, and multiple counts of criminal possession of a weapon.
Should Mangione enter a guilty plea in the federal case, the Manhattan District Attorney's Office has indicated it plans to advocate for a significant sentence from the presiding federal judge. The federal court appearance on Friday comes as Mangione prepares for his state trial, which is scheduled to begin on Sept. 8. The state judge, Carro, previously asserted that state prosecutors have primary jurisdiction and the support of the victim's family.
The federal trial is currently slated for Jan. 5, 2027. The potential for a federal plea deal raises questions about how Judge Garnett would respond, and whether she would comment on the state case. If a federal deal is accepted, Mangione's defense attorneys could then petition the state judge to dismiss the case or delay the trial to file motions for dismissal.
If Judge Carro refuses a delay, Mangione's lawyers could appeal to higher courts, including the Appellate Division's First Department and potentially the New York Court of Appeals.
Double Jeopardy Considerations The possibility of a federal plea deal could embolden the defense's attempts to get the state murder charges dismissed by invoking double jeopardy protections. The U.S. Constitution prohibits prosecution for the same crime twice. However, the federal government and New York State are considered separate sovereigns, allowing both to prosecute an individual for the same actions under the umbrella of distinct offenses.
New York State law offers broader double jeopardy protections than federal law or most other states, potentially barring a second prosecution if the charges stem from the "same act." Legal experts note that if Mangione pleads guilty federally, his defense would have a basis to argue double jeopardy under state law. However, state prosecutors are expected to contest this, arguing that the charges differ sufficiently to proceed with the murder trial.
Judges have previously ruled that Mangione's double jeopardy argument was premature, as his federal case had not yet been resolved. However, Judge Carro indicated in a September 2025 ruling that the issue could be raised again if Mangione reached a plea agreement before the state trial. He noted that New York's double jeopardy law is triggered by a conviction via guilty plea or a jury being sworn, neither of which had occurred at that time.
State prosecutors might contend that the elements of the state's second-degree murder charge are distinct from the federal stalking charges. Legal analysts suggest that a clear distinction in the charges would be significant for a double jeopardy defense. However, the ultimate success of such an argument may depend on the specific federal charges Mangione pleads guilty to.