What Happens If Luigi Mangione Pleads Guilty in Federal Court Tomorrow?

Luigi Mangione is expected to plead guilty in federal court in New York City on Friday, on charges of stalking UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, according to The New York Times . Because of double jeopardy laws, which can prevent a person from being tried for the same crime twice, this could have significant impacts on his upcoming state murder trial , which is expected to begin on Sept. 8.

Thompson was killed on Dec. 4, 2024 in midtown Manhattan, and five days later, Mangione was arrested as the prime suspect in his death. In New York state court he faces murder and weapons charges. His federal court date is currently set for January 2027. As of today, Mangione, 28, has pleaded not guilty to all state and federal charges against him.

Mangione faces two stalking charges in his federal case, with a maximum penalty of life in prison without the possibility of parole. He had previously also faced a charge of murder through the use of a firearm, which carried a possible death penalty sentence, but that charge and an additional firearms charge was dropped in January .

If Mangione does make a plea deal in his federal case, that doesn’t mean he will be able to negotiate what his sentencing will look like. “The [federal] prosecutors will recommend a certain sentence within the guidelines, and then the defense says we agree to that, but ultimately it’s going to be up to the judge,” says attorney Catherine Christian. Though she has not worked on this case, Christian was a prosecutor in the Manhattan District Attorney’s office and is now a criminal defense lawyer. She explains that in federal court, defendants don’t necessarily know what the sentencing will be when a plea deal happens, because that is ultimately determined by the judge in the case, which for Mangione is Judge Margaret Garnett.

Christian explains that Mangione might strike a plea deal with federal prosecutors versus state because his federal charges are more severe and don’t have the option for parole. “It makes [more] sense to talk to the federal prosecutors, because they have the real hammer over Mr. Mangione with life without parole.” Meanwhile, his state murder charge can lead to a sentence of 25 years to life. Plus, because of New York’s strict double jeopardy protections, his team could potentially argue that his New York state charges be dismissed entirely.