NEW YORK — Accused assassin Luigi Mangione pleaded guilty in federal court Friday morning, after days of speculation that he might admit guilt in the case in order to raise a potential double jeopardy claim weeks before his state-level murder trial.Prosecutors have alleged that Mangione, 28, is the hooded man who snuck up behind UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson on Dec.4, 2024, and shot him in the back outside a Hilton hotel in Manhattan.Mangione's defense team could attempt to raise a new double jeopardy claim with his guilty established in the federal case, but it remains unclear if he would prevail.UNITEDHEALTHCARE CEO BRIAN THOMPSON'S 'PREMEDITATED' ATTACK AND SUSPECT LUIGI MANGIONE'S GETAWAY: TIMELINEA hooded man aiming a handgun in this still image taken from surveillance video on the morning of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson's murder in New York City on Dec.
4, 2024.The video shows the assassin approaching from behind and opening fire with a handgun, killing Thompson outside a Manhattan Hilton hotel.
(NYPD)Judge Margaret Garnett asked Mangione if he understood the maximum sentence he could receive is life in prison.He answered, "Yes."He told the judge he called UnitedHealthcare posing as an investor to get information about the conference.Given the opportunity to address the court, Mangione opted to stay seated.This 2017 file photo of Brian Thompson was released via Businesswire when he was named Chief Executive Officer of UnitedHealthcare Unit in 2017.
(Businesswire)"After years of enduring severe pain from a broken back… I learned UnitedHealthcare would hold an investor’s conference," he began.The judge told him to speak louder.Mangione explained that while the specific location of the investor conference wasn't immediately made public, he researched it online.
That's when he called the company directly.He said he traveled to the Big Apple with the intent of shooting Brian Thompson.UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson is pictured in an undat...