Luigi Mangione expected to plead guilty in New York federal case: sources

If he pleads guilty to the federal charges, his lawyers are expected to seek dismissal of some or all of the charges in his state case.

By Kevin Killough

Published: August 13, 2026 1:26pm

Luigi Mangione is expected to plead guilty Friday to federal charges in connection with the 2024 killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, sources say.

In less than a month from now, Mangione, 28, is scheduled to go to trial in a state murder case in which he pleaded not guilty to eight felony charges, including second-degree murder. He is also facing federal charges in the case, and unnamed sources told NBC News he is expected to plead guilty to one or both of the stalking-related federal charges.

He could reverse his decision at any time, even during the hearing, and the unnamed sources stressed that nothing is final until Mangione himself accepts or enters into a plea deal.

If he pleads guilty to the federal charges, his lawyers are expected to seek dismissal of some or all of the charges in his state case. If he's convicted, he could face a life sentence.