Luigi Mangione Is Expected to Plead Guilty in Federal Court, Where He Faces Stalking Charges

Luigi Mangione is expected to plead guilty on Friday in Manhattan federal court, where he faces stalking charges in connection with the blockblockination of a health insurance executive in 2024, according to two people with knowledge of the matter.

The move comes less than a month before Mr. Mangione, 28, is scheduled to go on trial in a separate murder case in New York State court for the death of the executive, Brian Thompson. The two people spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the ongoing talks, which could always fall apart before or even during a scheduled hearing in federal court on Friday.

Mr. Mangione’s legal team did not immediately respond to a request for comment. When asked at an unrelated news conference on Wednesday about a potential plea, Jamie McDonald, the top federal prosecutor in Manhattan, said there was a court conference scheduled for Friday, adding, “That’s all we can say at this time.”

The specifics of Mr. Magione’s plea, including what charges, weren’t immediately clear., He could reverse his decision at the last minute, even during the court hearing itself. He faces two stalking charges that could result in a life sentence.

From the moment Mr. Mangione was charged by state and federal prosecutors, his legal team has argued that being tried in both jurisdictions violates his rights. The state trial is scheduled to start next month, and the second would start in January in federal court. Legal experts have said that the timing of any potential guilty plea in the federal case would be crucial to Mr. Mangione’s legal strategy. A resolution in the federal case, however, does not mean the state prosecution is over, according to legal experts.

In his federal case, Mr. Mangione faces two stalking charges resulting in death, which carry a maximum sentence of life in prison. A judge dismissed two other charges, including one that carried a potential death penalty if Mr. Mangione was convicted.

In state court, Mr. Mangione is charged with several counts, including second-degree murder, which could lead to a possible sentence of 25 years to life.

If he does plead guilty in federal court, his lawyers are expected to argue that under New York’s double jeopardy law, state prosecutors may not try him for murder because the state charges stem from the same criminal act as the federal case.

However, the Manhattan district attorney, Alvin L. Bragg, could counter that the state murder case addresses a different harm than the federal stalking case, and that it should therefore be allowed to proceed to trial.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.