Linus Fu, who spent time with Luigi at MDC, spoke to Erik about his experience.
Sharing this as we recently saw Linus posting pictures of himself and retelling the story online and on his podcast.
I’m not usually a fan of sharing press articles, but I thought this one was worth sharing since it seems Lorena spoke with some of Luigi’s friends about his guilty plea on Friday.
Judge Carro just set an adjournment date for December 10, giving prosecutors until October 9 to respond to the defense’s motion. The defense will then have until October 30 to reply to the prosecution’s response.
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Edit:
Dates (Federal + State) post has now been updated with the latest updates.
Video of Rich Schoenstein talking about last Friday's hearing and the defense's new motion to dismiss charges in the state case.
As someone who's been through the system - arguably not to the extent as Luigi - I totally understand the mindset behind his decision to plead guilty today upon the federal charges. While the media can attempt to spin this various ways, at the end of the day it was his legal right to enter a plea at any time, either federally or at the state level, and his doing so today was likely not as complicated a decision as many analysts are making it out to be.
IMO a heart to heart conversation occured between him and his defense team where they made it clear that best case scenario was him spending the rest of his life in prison one way or another. That then begs the question, where do you want to serve your time? As someone with experience in doing that, I can tell you that if I had been faced with the option to serve time federally versus in the state system, I would have gone federal all the way - especially if the state option was a shithole state like New York.
For Luigi, the tradeoff here is basically not much. His defense team had already scored some major wins for him such as getting the terrorism charged dropped, getting the death penalty off the table as an option, and also removing the mandatory life sentence mandate as well. What does that leave left? Overwhelming odds of a life in prison sentence. So where did Luigi want to do his time? Well, choosing the feds versus the state was the best decision he could have made quite frankly.
The trade off is that in the feds he loses any possibility of "parole" like he would have had in the state (but that he likely wouldn't have been granted anyway), however in accepting responsibility for this event shows as a mitigating factor to the feds and therefore can help in reduce his sentence under the federal sentencing guidelines. If he'd gone the state route, well, yes he could have gotten as low as 25 years and likely would have had much more. 25 years in a state prison feels more like 50 because it's hard time, day in and day out. But 25 years in the feds, or even 30, or 40, or more? He will experience a greater quality of life to whatever extent possible in the federal system as opposed to the state system and therefore, the time may not "feel" quite as long in the end.
That right there is enough to make anyone decide to go feds over state. But then take into consideration the fact that his federal charges of Interstate Stalking aren't actually considered a violent crime. This is huge for him when it comes to being classified a security level in the federal system and dictates how he will be evaluated throughout his entire stay in the federal system. Today, Luigi is not technically and legally speaking a "convicted murderer". He's simply a convicted stalker (which resulted in death) but that charge does not directly imply from a legal standing that he commited the person's death and therefore it's not a violent crime, technically. Had he plead guilty in the state case? He'd be a convicted murderer for life and treated as such forever in the system. But as a convicted stalker in the federal system, while he'll initially, likely, be sent to a high security facility, as time moves on he can work his way down levels. Each level down offers a better quality of life over time. I have no idea how the New York corrections do classifications for inmates but I'm sure it's not unlike most other states in the sense that it's highly arbitrary and basically you're at the whim of the folks who are classifying you at any given time. The feds is much more structured and they use a point system.
In the FBOP (FEDERAL BUREAU OF PRISONS), someone convicted of a bona fide murder can, and likely will eventually, with good behavior and the passage of time, be classified down far enough to reach minimum or low security. The only catch is that to be sent to a federal prison camp (un fenced facility) a person must be within 10 years of their release date and any person serving a life sentence for any reason is automatically barred from a camp - but not necessarily barred from the lowest classification level. If Luigi receives any sentence other than life in the feds, he will probably see minimum or low security one day and very well could eventually be sitting in an un fenced prison camp near the end of his sentence in his old age. This would be a much better way for him to do time as in the state prison, they would probably keep him in maximum security for who knows how long - 10, maybe 20 years, or more? Or forever? He'd likely see medium security eventually and maybe even minimum security closer to release. But it would be a much longer road for him to get there in the state system for sure.
In the feds, he will have a higher quality of Healthcare, food, recreation, programming, employment or education opportunities, etc., then he would in the state. Giving up a slight possibility of parole from the state in trade for this is very wise. Even if, on the off chance that his state case does not completely go away, since he went to the feds first, the feds is now where he'll serve his time forever even if states add on more convictions. The order of operation here in cases like this is incredibly important. The only way he'd ever see a state prison now is if he gets anything less than life from the feds and the state hands down some type of consecutive (non-concurrent) sentence. Meaning, you serve all your fed time first in full, then transfer to state for state time. It would be very rare for this to happen. Usually once someone receives a long federal sentence, the state just agrees to run whatever time they give out concurrently and not consecutively. The "big time" from the feds (longer sentence) then "eats" the little time up. Any state time ran concurrently with fed time would essentially be of no practical consequence. Running any type of sentence from a state consecutive to a life sentence or very long sentence from the feds is just basically like waiving a flag around saying "look at us, look at what we did, aren't we cool?" But it doesn't mean much more than that. After all, how can anything be consecutive to a life sentence with no parole.
In the end, neither system usually cares what the other system does in practice. I doubt the feds give a rats behind what New York does at this point. New York now only really cares because the feds took the biscuit out of their mouth. But that's usually the way it works. Rarely does a state charge ever trump a federal charge. And with New York's very broad and kind of unique double jeopardy law - which they wrote themselves mind you and put into law - it's pretty unlikely I believe that they will still be able to go through with that case as it stands today. So if New York wants to be mad at the feds well they can actually just redirect their anger at themselves because it's THEIR law. Quite frankly I agree with that law. I never understood how someone could be charged with the same crime more then once in two separate jurisdictions simply because the separate jurisdictions are both sovereign from one another. I think that New York has this law the way it should be, that if the elements of the crime are the same, even if the literal description differs, then double jeopardy applies across all jurisdictions.
Defense to file its sentencing submissions two weeks prior to sentencing by 12/04/2026.
Government to file its sentencing submission one week prior to sentencing by 12/11/2026.
Sentencing scheduled for December 18, 2026, at 11:00 a.m.
August 14, 2026
Dear Donors to the Official Luigi Mangione Legal Fund for All 3 Cases,
As you are undoubtedly aware, today Luigi pled guilty to federal stalking charges that resulted in the death of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Mr. Mangione told the court this morning, “I shot Mr Thompson in Manhattan and he died. When I did so, I understood that my actions would place him in fear of death or serious bodily injury. I knew what I was doing was illegal.”
You all have raised over $1.5 million dollars to give Luigi the best possible defense. We trust that the decision to plead guilty was fully his own, made in consultation with that defense. Today's hearing is the end of one chapter in Luigi's trials, but the saga is far from over. On December 18, Judge Margaret Garnett will sentence him for the federal stalking charges. Luigi still faces state charges in NY that carry the possibility of life in prison. While his legal team has already filed motions to dismiss the state charges based on double jeopardy protections, the state prosecutor has already made clear that he is still seeking a life sentence. Luigi also still faces state weapons charges in Pennsylvania. With the rest of you, we will continue to have Luigi's back and raise funds for all three cases.
You are all here supporting Luigi because, like us, you know that our current healthcare system is predicated on paying shareholders and executives large sums to keep millions of people sick and to let millions of people die. We all know that it is fundamentally at odds with our natural rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
Luigi's admission of responsibility places him in a long line of principled individuals who acted outside of the law in pursuit of higher ideals of justice. Just as we remember John Brown for his sacrifice for our natural right to liberty, history will remember Luigi Mangione for his sacrifice in the name of our natural right to health -- which is what the pursuit of happiness has always meant.
Luigi did something immeasurably brave today: he took responsibility for his actions, placing his trust in his supporters and in history to vindicate him. He gave up his future and his fortune to strike a blow against an industry that parasitically extracts profits from the most vulnerable moments of people’s lives.
Whatever follows from this point, we have two responsibilities: first, to ensure that he continues to receive robust support and encouragement for the rest of his time in prison, however long that is. Second, to vindicate him by building our collective power to make change. The government and the healthcare parasites are afraid that you might stop suffering alone, and realize that we are all suffering together. Because as soon as we realize that we are all suffering together, we have everything we need to collectively put a stop to it.
Thank you for your continued support for Luigi.
The December 4 Legal Committee
Please note that to avoid inadvertently running afoul of any court rules, we will only be sharing Luigi Mangione’s plea allocution, rather than a complete transcript. “Proceeding continues” means the proceeding continued, but is not reproduced in its entirety here.
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THE COURT: All right. Sir, I'm going to ask you now to tell me in your own words what you did that makes you believe that you are guilty of these charges. And if you are going to read, I just remind you to read slowly. Sometimes——even me reading a script——when you are reading, people tend to read more quickly. So just take your time and read slowly. Go ahead. It's entirely up to you, Mr. Mangione. If you would like to stand, you can stand, and if you are more comfortable sitting, that's fine.
THE DEFENDANT: I'll stay seated.
THE COURT: OK. Go ahead.
THE DEFENDANT: After years of enduring severe pain from a broken back, navigating the obstacles of the health insurance system and witnessing similar experiences of countless others, I learned that United Healthcare would be holding its annual investor conference in New York City on December 4, 2024, although the specific location was not publicly disclosed.
THE COURT: I'm sorry. Mr. Mangione, I'm so sorry to interrupt you. I'm just having a little bit of trouble hearing you, and so maybe back up a little bit from the microphone.
THE DEFENDANT: Back up, OK.
THE COURT: And just try to keep your voice up. The last thing I heard was that you learned that United Healthcare would be holding an investor conference in Manhattan in December. Go ahead.
THE DEFENDANT: I learned that United Healthcare would be holding its annual investor conference in New York City on December 4, 2024, although the specific location was not publicly disclosed. I then researched the event online. I observed that the annual conference of America's largest health care organization with the stated mission to make health --excuse me -- with the stated mission to make the health system work better for everyone, would be attended by company executives, the board of directors, and hundreds of investors, not doctors, nurses, and patients. In November of 2024, I traveled from outside of New York State to Manhattan. I then emailed United Healthcare leadership posing as an investor at a firm managing over $50 billion in assets and requesting information about the conference. Unlike my previous interactions with insurers, I received an immediate response within an hour. Before traveling to New York, I used a 3-D printer to make part of a gun, and I equipped the gun with the silencer and magazine. My travel to New York and email to United Healthcare was with the intent to shoot Brian Thompson. On the morning of December 4, 2024, I shot Mr. Thompson in Manhattan and he died. When I did so, I understood that my actions would place him in fear of death or serious bodily injury. I knew what I was doing was illegal.
THE COURT: Ms. Friedman Agnifilo, are you aware of any valid defense that would prevail at trial, or do you know any reason why I should not allow Mr. Mangione to plead guilty?
MS. FRIEDMAN AGNIFILO: No, your Honor.
THE COURT: Mr. Gentile, are there any additional questions that you want me to ask Mr. Mangione?
MR. GENTILE: No, your Honor.
[proceeding continues]
THE COURT: Does either party know of any reason why I should not accept the defendant's plea of guilty? Mr. Gentile?
MR. GENTILE: No, your Honor.
THE COURT: Ms. Friedman Agnifilo?
MS. FRIEDMAN AGNIFILO: No, your Honor.
THE COURT: Mr. Mangione, how do you now plead to Counts One and Two of the indictment?
THE DEFENDANT: Guilty.
Court sketches from today's Federal hearing (08/14/26)
Hi everyone,
I know emotions are high right now and there’s a lot going on, so I won’t overcomplicate this.
Just a very simple compilation for anyone who doesn’t feel like scrolling through the whole sub. It includes all the significant posts and updates from everything that happened today.
Thank you so much for being here, and I hope you all get to rest a little this weekend.
(*) This post will be constantly updated as more information comes in.
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Federal courts do not allow cameras inside the courtroom, so there will be no photos or video of Luigi unless stated otherwise. Only courtroom sketches will be posted in this section.
This is a compilation of tweets from reporters inside the courtroom during today’s hearing. Only Matthew (Inner City Press) and Erik had laptop access today.
Other reporters took handwritten notes and / or are expected to post updates in the coming hours. Those updates will be posted here so feel free to come back later to check them out.
(*)I won’t be adding every single summary article/video today because, for some reason, it seems to trigger Reddit’s filters. Please visit the journalist’s page in question to see all their updates.
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The statement she made outside court today is now on Luigi's official website.
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"Good afternoon, everyone. My name is Karen Friedman Agnifilo and I represent Luigi Mangione. Today is a solemn and significant day. With today's guilty plea, Mr. Mangione has accepted full responsibility for the death of Brian Thompson arising from the events of December 4th, 2024, outside the UnitedHealthcare investor conference here in Midtown Manhattan. It was a single tragic event, yet he is being prosecuted twice for the same conduct.
As Luigi explained in court today, he endured years of severe, debilitating pain following a broken back while struggling to navigate our healthcare and health insurance systems. Like the thousands of people who have reached out since this tragedy to share their own experiences, he believed that system had failed him and destroyed his life.
Despite this being a single isolated event, Mr. Mangione has been unfairly treated since the outset in every way and has successfully fought off terrorism charges and the death penalty while also fighting at the same time two simultaneous prosecutions in two jurisdictions who are trying to punish him twice for the exact same conduct. He has been treated differently from every other defendant charged with this offense in New York. However, thankfully, New York law doesn’t allow this. New York law does not permit a person to be prosecuted and punished twice for the exact same crime under a statute that governs successive prosecutions that is also known as the double jeopardy law. Today's guilty plea triggers this statute, and we just filed our motion in state court explaining why the state charges must be dismissed under New York's double jeopardy protections.
We will not be taking any other questions. Thank you so much for coming."
More here.
The defense team has filed a new motion to dismiss as mentioned in today's conference.
Full document here.
“As Luigi explained in court today, he endured years of severe, debilitating pain following a broken back, while struggling to navigate our healthcare and health insurance systems. Like the thousands of people who have reached out since this tragedy to share their own experiences, he believed that the system had failed him and destroyed his life.”
“He’s been treated differently from every other defendant charged with this offence in NY. However, thankfully, NY law does not permit a person to be prosecuted and punished twice for the exact same crime…. It’s also known as the double jeopardy law.”
“While nothing will ease the pain of losing him, we are grateful that the federal justice system has held the person responsible for this heinous act accountable.”
Please use this thread for live discussion of the hearing.
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Today’s hearing is taking place at 40 Foley Square, Courtroom 110 (New York, NY) at 11:00 AM EST.
Cameras aren’t allowed inside the courtroom in federal court, so there won’t be any video or photos of Luigi. The only visuals we’ll likely get are courtroom sketches.
Because this is federal court, the rules are stricter. Phones and laptops aren’t allowed inside the courtroom.
Only a small number of people (like ICP or Erik) are permitted to live-tweet updates. Other reporters can still attend, but probably won’t be able to post anything while the hearing is in session.
Any updates from other reporters will be shared here once the hearing is over.
If we come across any livestreams, we'll share them here as soon as we find them.
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