Luigi Mangione, the man accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, faces four new federal charges, newly released court documents reveal. .
Mangione already faced state charges in New York and Pennsylvania, but the new federal charges of murder with a firearm could lead to authorities seeking the death penalty.
He also faces federal firearms charges and two counts of stalking, according to an unsealed indictment. Posted by: Courthouse News Service.
Mr. Mangione is accused of shooting Mr. Thompson outside the Hilton Midtown in New York, where Mr. Thompson was scheduled to speak at the annual investor conference. The killing garnered national attention and authorities searched for Mangione for several days before finding him at a McDonald's in Altoona, Pennsylvania.
Mangione was transferred from Pennsylvania to New York on Thursday after waiving extradition.
The new federal complaint also reveals new details about a notebook allegedly in Mangione's possession that “contains several handwritten pages expressing hostility toward the health insurance industry and particularly wealthy executives. “I was there,'' he said.
It allegedly included a statement dated October 22, six weeks before the killing, in which the investor meeting was a “real windfall” and Mangione called the insurance company's CEO ” He said there was an intention to “deceive” him.
Mr. Mangione's attorney, Karen Friedman Agnifilo, said he intends to fight the charges “in whatever court they arise.”
Earlier this week, state prosecutors in Manhattan indicted Mangione on 11 counts of terrorism, including first-degree murder and second-degree murder. First-degree murder carries a maximum sentence of life in prison without parole.
The charging documents call the alleged murder an attempt to “intimidate or coerce” civilians and influence government policy or action.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg (D) said the 26-year-old's alleged assault threatened the safety of local residents and tourists alike in one of New York City's most “busiest neighborhoods.”
“This was a horrifying, well-planned murder case designed to shock, attract attention and intimidate,” he said.
Mr. Agnifilo accused federal prosecutors of needlessly accumulating Mr. Mangione with charges.
“The federal government's decision to pile on already overprosecuted first-degree murder and state terrorism cases is highly unusual and raises serious constitutional and statutory double jeopardy concerns. ” she said before the charges were clarified.
Mangione was also charged in Pennsylvania, where police said he was arrested with a ghost gun, a silencer, and writing expressing hate toward American companies.
