Accused UnitedHealthcare CEO assassin Luigi Mangione is expected to plead guilty to the federal charges against him at a surprise pretrial conference Friday, according to local reports, a move that could upend his state-level murder trial just weeks before it’s supposed to begin in New York City.
State and federal prosecutors and Mangione’s legal team have not responded to requests for comment from Fox News Digital.
“There is no deal,” a senior Justice Department source told Fox News Thursday. However, the source added, Mangione is allowed to plead guilty in open court Friday if he so chooses.
The Associated Press reported Thursday that the 28-year-old former Ivy Leaguer is expected to plead guilty in his federal stalking case, citing a person familiar with the matter. Mangione could change his mind, however.
LUIGI MANGIONE HEARING SET FOR FRIDAY STIRS PLEA DEAL SPECULATION IN HIS FEDERAL CASE
Paul Mauro, a retired NYPD inspector and Fox News contributor, suggested that Mangione may still enter a guilty plea without any kind of deal in place in a gamble to get out of serving time in a state prison.
“It wasn’t a crazy read that it looked like a deal, because even the District Attorney of New York, in the state case, filed a letter opposing any deal,” he said. “But that said, it just didn’t fly for me, and it looks like he’s just gonna plead guilty.”
That could still work out in Mangione’s favor, he said.
“First of all, he gets to serve his time in federal prison, where conditions are better, and he is hoping that the New York state double jeopardy law will knock out the state case now and all he ever has is the federal case,” he said. “That is no guarantee.”
If Mangione does plead guilty without a deal in place, federal prosecutors would still ask the judge to impose the maximum possible sentence of life without parole.
However, the decision would be up to the judge.
FOLLOW THE FOX TRUE CRIME TEAM ON X
Mangione is accused of following UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson to a Manhattan Hilton hotel on the morning of Dec. 4, 2024, and shooting him in the back hours before a business conference was supposed to take place there. Surveillance video shows a man in a hoodie approach Thompson from behind and open fire with a handgun — the same weapon authorities allege Mangione had in his backpack when he was arrested in a Pennsylvania McDonald’s five days later.
SIGN UP TO GET THE LATEST TRUE CRIME NEWS
Mangione has pleaded not guilty to all charges in both cases previously. His defense team has had some success already, convincing judges in both cases to dismiss the most serious charges. As a result, he would no longer face capital punishment if convicted in a federal trial, and would not face life without parole if convicted in New York state.
LIKE WHAT YOU’RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE
He could still face a maximum sentence of life without parole in federal prison if convicted in that case — but experts say he would probably avoid the stiffest possible sentence even if convicted by a jury.
LISTEN TO THE NEW ‘CRIME & JUSTICE WITH DONNA ROTUNNO’ PODCAST
“Rarely somebody with no background, who’s educated, gets the maximum sentences,” said Donna Rotunno, a Chicago criminal defense attorney and Fox News contributor. “Is he looking at minimum sentences? No. But at the end of the day, he’s benefiting from more serious charges being dismissed.”
He is still likely looking at decades behind bars, and any legal issues arising from a potential plea could also delay the start of his state trial, which is supposed to begin with jury selection on Sept. 8, she said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
