Luigi Mangione Now Facing Additional Federal Charges, Possible Death Penalty If Convicted

Accused UnitedHealthcare CEO killer Luigi Mangione is facing new federal charges for executing Brian Thompson in cold blood on a dark New York City street, and could face the death penalty if convicted. The charges are in addition to what the 26-year-old suspect is facing from the Manhattan District Attorney, who earlier this week announced they were charging him with first-degree murder in furtherance of terrorism and two counts of second-degree murder, one specifically relating to a terroristic act.Mr. Mangione, who appeared before a judge at New York City on Thursday, was charged of murder, stalking, and weapons possession on Thursday by the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Southern District of New York, and was immediately taken to the courthouse in Lower Manhattan upon his extradition from Pennsylvania, where he was nabbed five days after the shooting. He appeared in court looking calm as well as cleaned up, having changed from his DOC-issued orange jumpsuit into a white button-down shirt, a navy pullover and khaki pants, while his feet were shackled. Luigi Mangione on his way to New York City. Via NYPDThe suspect looked down and fidgeted with his hair as U.S. Magistrate Judge Katharine H. Parker went over his rights as a defendant and the charges being levied against him, which include two counts of stalking for use of Interstate facilities and travel in interstate commerce and one count of murder and firearms possession each.The only word he spoke was “yes” when asked if he understood his rights and when asked his he had seen a copy of the new criminal complaint against him. Mr. Mangione also declined to make an application for bail through his attorney Karen Friedman Agnifilo but reserved the right to do so at a later date. Until then, he will remain in custody at the Manhattan Detention Center.Ms. Friedman Agnifilo also took the opportunity before Judge Parker to express her dismay over the newest charges against her client and asked for “clarity.”She referenced the charges of terrorism handed down to Mr. Mangione announced by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg during a joint press conference with the NYPD on Wednesday.“There was no mention of the federal charges. I was told to appear at 2 p.m. in front of Judge Carol,” she said referencing the indictment from the Manhattan District Attorney’s office.“In over three decades of prosecution I have never seen anything like this.”She also railed against one of the four federal charges being “death eligible” and described the double charges from state and federal agencies as “highly unusual.”“I would like clarity. Is this a joint investigation?” she asked.Judge Parker urged the prosecution and defense teams to “meet” after the proceedings.The newly unsealed complaint quotes writings from the alleged shooter’s notebook where he expressed his “hostility towards the health insurance industry and wealthy executives in particular.”“[T]he target is insurance … it checks every box,” read one notebook entry dated August 15, according to the filing. In another page dated October 22, Mr. Mangione wrote that he intended to “wack” an Insurance Company chief executive at its investor conference.“This investor conference is a true windfall … and — most importantly — the message becomes self-evident,” the notebook entry read.The suspect agreed earlier Thursday morning to waive extradition during a hearing in Pennsylvania where he was arrested after five days on the run. He was spotted by an eagle-eyed customer at a McDonald’s at Altoona. Mr. Mangione’s attorney, Karen Friedman Agnifilo, declined to comment on his case as she left the courthouse, saying only that “Mr. Mangione appreciates everyone’s support.”But in a released statement given before the new federal charges were filed, Ms. Friedman Agnifilo said, “The federal government’s reported decision to pile on top of an already overcharged first-degree murder and state terror case is highly unusual and raises serious constitutional and statutory double jeopardy concerns.”“We are ready to fight these charges in whatever court they are brought.”

Luigi Mangione Now Facing Additional Federal Charges, Possible Death Penalty If Convicted

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