Luigi Plea Deal Has Been Discussed With Federal Prosecutors, Reports Say

Defense attorneys for Luigi Mangione, accused of gunning down the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, Brian Thompson, discussed a possible plea deal with federal prosecutors, various news outlets reported. On Thursday evening, ABC News and other outlets cited “sources familiar with the matter” saying that Mr. Mangione had discussed a “possible guilty plea” with federal prosecutors. It was unclear how close the sides came to an agreement before the negotiations stopped, ABC added. Mr. Mangione, 28, is being prosecuted in two jurisdictions for the same criminal act: The fatal shooting of Thompson on a Midtown Manhattan street. At New York Supreme Court, he is charged with second-degree murder and numerous counts of criminal possession of a weapon. Federal prosecutors in the Southern District of New York, meanwhile, accuse him of interstate stalking. Thompson, a 50-year-old executive and father of two, had traveled to New York from his home state of Minnesota to attend an annual investor conference when he was gunned down in front of the New York Hilton in the early hours of December 4, 2024. Mr. Mangione has pleaded not guilty to all charges. The New York trial, which is scheduled to begin on September 8, will take place first, federal and state prosecutors have agreed. The federal trial will come second. Due to the overwhelming press coverage, finding impartial jurors is a more difficult and lengthier process than in less publicized cases. That’s why the presiding district judge, Margaret Garnett, has begun compiling a jury questionnaire for the federal trial. She has scheduled a hearing for Monday, June 29, to discuss the questions with the parties. On Thursday, federal prosecutors filed a letter to Judge Garnett with no mention of any plea negotiations. Instead, the letter confirmed that Monday’s hearing would proceed as planned. “The parties write jointly to advise the Court that, at the conference currently scheduled for Monday, June 29, 2026, the parties will be prepared to address any questions the Court may have concerning the parties’ respective proposed juror questionnaires and to discuss matters related to scheduling,” the letter read. It was signed by the United States attorney, Sean Buckley, and other assistant United States attorneys on the case. In a statement to the press, the lead defense attorney, Karen Friedman-Agnifilo, dismissed the negotiation reports as part of a deliberate attempt to prejudice the jury pool. “This information attributed to ‘anonymous sources’ is part of a troubling, deliberate pattern by prosecutors and law enforcement to prejudice Luigi, manipulate public opinion, and violate his constitutional right to a fair trial and impartial jury,” Ms. Friedman-Agnifilo said. “Every defendant in America is presumed innocent until proven guilty, including Luigi, who, unlike any other defendant, has to fight the same charges twice,” the defense attorney added. Legal analyst Danny Cevallos told NBC News that a plea agreement in the federal case could lead to the dismissal of the state case on grounds of New York’s double jeopardy laws, which prevent a defendant from being prosecuted for the same criminal act twice. A criminal defense attorney, Elena Fast, told The New York Sun in an email on Thursday evening that it was too early to make such assumptions. “Without knowing the specifics of the plea negotiations and any written plea agreement, it is very difficult to say what happens to the New York state case if the federal matter resolves first,” Ms. Fast wrote in her email. “Potentially a double jeopardy motion, a disposition of both matters, or a plea agreement silent on what happens to the New York State case in light of the federal plea. Time will tell,” she added. Mr. Mangione is scheduled to appear in federal court on Monday morning.

Luigi Plea Deal Has Been Discussed With Federal Prosecutors, Reports Say

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