Luigi Mangione pleads guilty to federal charges in the killing of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO

Add NBC News to Google Luigi Mangione expected to plead guilty in federal case 02:23 Get more news on Share Add NBC News to Google Aug. 14, 2026, 5:05 AM EDT By Tim Stelloh , Adam Reiss , Jonathan Dienst and Erica Byfield The man charged with gunning down United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson on a New York City street two years ago is expected to plead guilty to stalking charges in Manhattan federal court Friday, according to sources familiar with the matter.

The terms of a potential plea agreement remain unclear. Sources familiar with the matter said Thursday that negotiations were ongoing and nothing was final until Mangione accepted a deal. That potential decision could be reversed during the hearing.

Federal prosecutors and defense attorneys declined to comment Thursday.

Mangione was charged with two federal counts — interstate stalking resulting in death and stalking through use of interstate facilities resulting in death — though it isn’t clear if he will plead guilty to both. The charges carry a maximum penalty of life in prison and are separate from the state allegations, which include second-degree murder and firearms crimes.

Mangione’s trial in the state case is expected to begin early next month.

He pleaded not guilty in both cases and previously faced two additional federal counts, including using a firearm to commit murder, which carried a maximum penalty of death. A judge dismissed that charge earlier this year.

The brazen killing of Thompson — a father of two who led the nation’s largest healthcare insurer — put a spotlight on the country’s health insurance industry and widespread frustration over denied claims .

Mangione was arrested at a Pennsylvania McDonald’s on Dec. 9, 2024, five days after Thompson was fatally shot outside a Manhattan hotel that was hosting an investors’ conference.

Among the pieces of evidence found by authorities in Mangione’s backpack was a notebook that detailed his apparent grievances against the industry. At the scene, authorities found a bullet and two shell casings that had the words “delay,” “deny,” “depose” written on them.

Mangione’s attorneys had sought to bar the notebook from being introduced as evidence at his trials, arguing authorities obtained it during an illegal search. Judges in both cases rejected that argument.

Jonathan Dienst Jonathan Dienst is chief justice contributor for NBC News and chief investigative reporter for WNBC-TV in New York.