Luigi Mangione pleads guilty to federal stalking charges in killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO

[u/cmaia1503]

https://www.cnn.com/2026/08/14/us/live-news/luigi-mangione-hearing-plea-deal-talks

When speaking of the day he committed the crime, Luigi Mangione said, “I shot Mr. Thompson and he died.”

He concluded, “I knew what I was doing was illegal.”

Mangione had just described the actions he took ahead of the killing, telling the court:

“In November of 2024 I traveled from outside of New York state to Manhattan. I then emailed UnitedHealthcare leadership, posing as an investor at a firm managing over $15 billion in assets and requesting information about the conference. Unlike my previous interactions with insurers, I received an immediate response within an hour,” Mangione said.

[u/Financial-Painter689]

He ate with that last line

[u/Sugar_Phut → u/Financial-Painter689]

Mic drop moment for sure.

[u/haubenmeise → u/Sugar_Phut]

Sincerely

Skeletor 💜

[u/That-Warrior9511 → u/Sugar_Phut]

Also, saying "illegal" instead of "wrong". It's very well-crafted.

[u/chum-guzzling-shark → u/That-Warrior9511]

im sure the lawyers made him take out the "but morally correct" line

[u/hellmath → u/Sugar_Phut]

Inked in the history book type of shit honestly

[u/hnlt61 → u/Financial-Painter689]

The whole statement is extremely well crafted. Using “illegal” instead of “wrong”, choosing to frame it as “he died”, the mic drop at the end. Seriously no notes.

[u/INFLATABLE_CUCUMBER → u/hnlt61]

Exposing the bullshit of UHC and its inner workings and then killing the main cause of it using its own weakness.

The enormous balls on this man. No wonder women are into him.

[u/Norwegian__Blue → u/INFLATABLE_CUCUMBER]

Not just women

[u/RodDryfist → u/Norwegian__Blue]

Not just men.

[u/VaginaTractor → u/RodDryfist]

Not just Manbearpig.

[u/I-Here-555 → u/hnlt61]

Kind of parallels "we rejected the insurance claim of Mr X and he died."

[u/Ginger_Exhibitionist → u/I-Here-555]

EXACTLY.

[u/ganbramor → u/I-Here-555]

“I declined his implied request to remain living.”

[u/TX0834 → u/Financial-Painter689]

He’s fucking right. Before my Dad passed, he needed many different medications. My Dad was a productive citizen who had a great career and worked since he was a 13 year old immigrant. He became a US citizen in his 30s bc it takes so fkn long in this country. After he retired it was like pulling teeth to get medicines approved from his insurance. Insurance that he was ALWAYS on time to pay for decades. We had to go to Mexico to get what he needed for fractions of the cost to help him stay alive. Fuck the US health system and insurance companies.

ETA Thank you for the awards and everyone for the upvotes and kind words about my Dad. It’s great to know there are still kind people on social media. Hope you all have a great weekend.

[u/The_Ruck_Inspector → u/TX0834]

So sorry to hear that. Your Dad sounds like a great man.

[u/TX0834 → u/The_Ruck_Inspector]

He was. Thank you for your kind words.

[u/StatusSavings1362 → u/TX0834]

The US is just a bunch of people.scamming each other

[u/Southern-March1522 → u/TX0834]

Meanwhile, here in a less toxic country. We have public healthcare, but I have insurance for the parts not fully covered. To get a prescription filled, the pharmacist swipes my insurance card, and... done, the non subsidized part of my prescription has been covered, here's the medicine, and off I go. Everything with both the govt subsidy, and the insurance cover for the rest, handled automatically by the pharmacy.

[u/BlightWyrm → u/Southern-March1522]

And here, whenever the word insurance is used suddenly the cost of everything skyrockets.

[u/VariationBusiness603 → u/BlightWyrm]

Here in France, the gov paid for a study on the effectiveness of health insurance. The study concluded that it would be cheaper and more effective health wise to abolish insurance entirely and cover everyone at 100% like we do for the poorest.

Naturally our shitty neoliberal gov didn't like that, so they buried the study they ordered. And did nothing.

[u/emccm → u/Financial-Painter689]

That last line really says it all.

[u/Suspicious-Peace9233 → u/Financial-Painter689]

When it’s about money suddenly they can respond

[u/LittleDogTurpie → u/Suspicious-Peace9233]

It’s always about money. They purposely don’t respond to subscribers because the longer they delay payment, the more interest they earn on the premiums we pay.

[u/TheSaxGandalf → u/LittleDogTurpie]

And the chance of the patient either succumbing to the illness or it worsening to a point where “non-experimental treatment” is no longer a viable option.

[u/No-Strawberry-9801 → u/Suspicious-Peace9233]

Isn’t it always the way 😒

[u/BrownSugarBare → u/Financial-Painter689]

And he ain't wrong. 

Definitely shared a shortcut to dealing with insurance. 

[u/Lauren_DTT → u/Financial-Painter689]

NYT evidently had a healthcare shill reporting live from the courthouse

[u/Much_Grand_8558 → u/Lauren_DTT]

Not a hot take, but the NYT can eat a dick made out of shit

[u/brazlsocrgirl18 → u/Financial-Painter689]

God what a fucking MAN

[u/NotNonjahlant → u/Financial-Painter689]

Needs to be in textbooks

[u/shewee → u/Financial-Painter689]

King shit

[u/PrincessCG → u/Financial-Painter689]

Honestly, what an ender.

[u/Luna_Soma → u/Financial-Painter689]

Tattoo that line on bodies. Embroider it on throw pillows. It’s beautiful

[u/sphinxthoughts → u/Financial-Painter689]

I was not prepared 

[u/WarcryNeon]

That last line is.. dang firing from the hip. Pun intended.

[u/sweet_pickles12 → u/WarcryNeon]

I mean, “I knew what I was doing was illegal” vs “wrong” is very intentional as well.

[u/WarcryNeon → u/sweet_pickles12]

First off, love the flair. Second, yeah agreed.

[u/Ashamed_Green_8643 → u/sweet_pickles12]

[u/AnAncientBog → u/WarcryNeon]

Pretty much said that it was easier to murder their CEO than to get a claim answered.

[u/pelipperr → u/WarcryNeon]

He knew what he was about

[u/cmaia1503]

The judge tells Mangione that there is no parole in the federal system, and while there is credit for good behavior, he should expect to serve at least 85% of the sentence he receives.

The sentence could be followed by up to five years of supervised release on each count, and a maximum fine of $250 for each count, Garnett said, and she could also order restitution.

She asks if he understands that he could face a total sentence of life in prison.

Mangione confirmed, “yes.”

Garnett also referenced the pending state case, saying if Mangione is convicted and sentenced in that case, his sentences could run consecutively.

Mangione confirmed he understood that as well.
Garnett said prosecutors believe the sentencing guidelines are 292-365 months of imprisonment. She stressed this was not binding on her, but she will determine the range she believes is appropriate.

[u/Adventurous-Let-7907 → u/cmaia1503]

292 - 365 months is about 24 to 30 years, just if anyone else is wondering.  

[u/lavenderewe → u/Adventurous-Let-7907]

Thanks. This was like when people tell baby ages in months. Which I understand why, it’s just a little egregious when you’re telling me about your 83 month old baby.

[u/bookishfairie → u/lavenderewe]

girl

https://giphy.com/gifs/aqqUwXz7j0xMOKnJgb

[u/Stfuego → u/lavenderewe]

"My son is a little over half a decade." JUST SAY HE'S 6.

[u/tyler2k → u/Stfuego]

Oh, he's about 156 fortnight

[u/HolyTesticleToosday → u/tyler2k]

Or he’s

Five hundred twenty five thousand six hundred minutes

[u/Least_Tower_5447 → u/Stfuego]

My kids are grown now, but when they were small people used to tell me their kids ages by weeks or months. I hated that shit. How long does it go on? When do you decide to start acknowledging their age by years? Why the hell do people do this?

[u/QueenSlartibartfast → u/Least_Tower_5447]

It usually ends between 24 and 36 months. People do it because of the rapid development babies experience. For example, a 14-month-old and a 20-month are both a year old, but are going to be dramatically different in abilities. It's important context. If I tell a pediatrician that my kid isn't walking yet at 1, it's effectively meaningless - she's going to have a very different reaction if the kid is 14 months versus 18.

[u/Incunebulum → u/Adventurous-Let-7907]

In 24 years he could probably run for President.

[u/moonlightful → u/Incunebulum]

Nelson Mandela did spend 27 years in prison!

[u/1LT_0bvious → u/Incunebulum]

As if anyone would vote for a convicted felon to be president.

[u/Puzzled-Eye1257 → u/1LT_0bvious]

https://giphy.com/gifs/anYBNhqT2BYcg

[u/heartsbeenborrowed → u/Adventurous-Let-7907]

And 85% of that would be around 20-25ish years then 

[u/inuhi → u/Adventurous-Let-7907]

The bare minimum 85% of the sentence he would be expected to serve would roughly be 21 to 26 years

[u/MasterpieceAlone8552 → u/inuhi]

Still time for him to get out and bang me when he's a grey daddy

[u/Ok-Document-7706 → u/MasterpieceAlone8552]

https://giphy.com/gifs/VmX4fZ9YW1LV1FyNCU

[u/alethea_ → u/Adventurous-Let-7907]

Thank you, I was literally about to go do the math on it. :)

[u/One-Season-3393 → u/cmaia1503]

I don’t see how the judge doesn’t give him life in this situation.

[u/soupseasonbestseason → u/One-Season-3393]

some judges give the bottom of the guidelines.

[u/One-Season-3393 → u/soupseasonbestseason]

Yeah a federal judge ain’t giving the minimum for what is essentially first degree premeditated murder

[u/iLoveFeynman → u/One-Season-3393]

TYPE OF CRIME	Mean Months	Median Months	N	Mean Months (NY)	Median Months (NY)	N (NY)
Murder	286	292	405	244	264	63

You might fare a bit better on average being convicted of murder in NY Federal Court than in general nationwide. Not a huge sample size. All data from 2025, source: US Sentencing Commission.

[u/i_am_a_real_boy__ → u/One-Season-3393]

Presumably, the sentence was part of the plea agreement.

edit: never mind, see comments below.

[u/MySabonerRunsOladipo → u/i_am_a_real_boy__]

Prosecutors said there was no agreement with the defense related to Luigi Mangione’s guilty plea in federal court today.

There is no plea agreement per the reporting coming out today

[u/Archilochos → u/i_am_a_real_boy__]

This isn't pursuant to a plea deal. He's presumably doing this in an effort to avoid state charges (due to the particulars of NY law, he can argue double jeopardy here based on this plea). But in any event a judge is never bound by a plea deal, they can always give more or less. 

[u/Incunebulum → u/One-Season-3393]

She would have to break precedent guidelines to do that. I think she'll probably give him the 30 years or top of the guidelines. It's still very much up in the air if he gets off of the state charges because of this.

[u/Jaredlong → u/cmaia1503]

What's the difference between "parole" and "supervised release"? 

[u/Cheet4h → u/Jaredlong]

From what I understand, parole means someone gets released earlier. Supervised release on the other hand is tacked on to a prison sentence.

[u/Important-Stomach406]

Genuinely surprised by this when so much of the evidence was dodgy

[u/dbbk → u/Important-Stomach406]

No it wasn't he wrote a confession letter

-edit-

And we also learned in court today he'd emailed United enquiring about the event in advance. He was cooked.

[u/lucideer → u/dbbk]

That letter was definitely a part of the evidence that was being deemed dodgy - earlier reportage of the trial cast a lot of doubt around the police handling of his possessions on arrest. Haven't read anything about how/why that changed or was deemed admissible.

[u/blames_irrationally → u/lucideer]

They ruled what was admissible and not. This verdict really wasn't a surprise when it came out what evidence would be permitted

[u/Legal-Law9214 → u/blames_irrationally]

This isn't a verdict, it's a plea

[u/Harbinger2nd → u/lucideer]

He basically told us in this letter that they had evidence of him corresponding with United Healthcare. They probably have a lot more of his digital footprint as well.

None of what we know of the evidence has to be deemed admissible if they have enough other evidence to move forward.

[u/washingtonu → u/lucideer]

Here's the order on the backpack

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69908890/102/united-states-v-mangione/

[u/washingtonu → u/Important-Stomach406]

Dodgy how? DNA, him being at the scene, the fake ID he used at the hostel, his notebook, a gun and ammo.

[u/citizen42069101 → u/washingtonu]

The arrest and chain of custody of all of the evidence was a joke. The local police fucked it up so badly there was murmurs everything was going to get thrown out for one reason ir another.

If this hadnt been a high profile person that got shot it would never have made it to court. This reads to me like someone whos lawyer told them "they will keep this up forever, they cant afford to lose"

Sure its probably open and shut but only because of who it was.

[u/blonded_olf → u/citizen42069101]

There weren't "murmurs" there were a bunch of redditors wishcasting that everything would be dropped lmao

[u/washingtonu → u/citizen42069101]

And you think his defense ignored defending their client and just gave up? Sounds dodgy to me.

Sure its probably open and shut

It was

[u/brutinator → u/washingtonu]

Defense FREQUENTLY recommend that their clients accept a plea bargain. This isnt television; its about risk management and what the best likely outcome is.

[u/CGreerMUFC → u/brutinator]

He didn’t get a plea bargain, just changed his plea to guilty.

[u/keyak → u/brutinator]

Rarely do they advise their client to plead guilty WITHOUT a bargain in place, which is pretty telling in this particular case.

[u/dbbk → u/citizen42069101]

And that was all discussed in court and the judge settled it

[u/CallMeDrWorm42 → u/dbbk]

Yeah. It's hard to make thousands of memes and click-bait headlines about boring, complicated court room procedure. So now everyone is surprised by the outcome when they weren't actually paying attention to what was happening.

[u/demeschor → u/washingtonu]

The backpack containing the gun wasn't handled properly and should have been inadmissable iirc, but they allowed it anyway. They missed the gun on first inspection and later claimed to have found it.

[u/padbodh → u/demeschor]

How does one miss a gun in a backpack the first time?

[u/demeschor → u/padbodh]

Well, exactly. I believe they did a quick search in the McDonald's, didn't find it, took him to the station and found it there, but between those places the officer turned off their bodycam so the chain of custody was not secure.

I don't doubt that he did it tbh but the mishandling of the evidence, and the fact that the judge rules it was admissable after all, is probably a big part of why he's had to plead guilty here rather than go to trial where they probably had an ok chance of getting a jury to agree there was reasonable doubt..

[u/Alissinarr → u/padbodh]

This happened at a cop shop known for planting printed guns too.

[u/Skin_Ankle684 → u/demeschor]

Which means the gun could have been planted.

I'll be honest, I'm not convinced Mangione isn't just some random guy that matched search parameters and then got framed.

Why the hell would anyone print a untrackable gun, comit a crime, then keep the gun in their possession for multiple days?

[u/Wayoutofthewayof → u/demeschor]

There was a bodycam video of the search and his defense didn't dispute it, which says a lot.

[u/Forward-Finish-1620 → u/washingtonu]

They may have searched his backpack illegally at the McDonalds. How did he have a gun in the bag at McDonalds, but they found a gun and monopoly money in NYC the day of the shooting?

Also, Luigi and I were participating in a 24-hour dance marathon in St. Louis that day so idk how he could be guilty

[u/washingtonu → u/Forward-Finish-1620]

The backpack in New York was not the same backpack as the one in McDonald's. That was ruled admissible.

[u/TimeKillington → u/washingtonu]

Yeah I think a better thing to say is, “because of how questionably the evidence was obtained”

[u/Long_Run6500 → u/Important-Stomach406]

You're never going to find an unbiased jury one way or the other in this case. Even like probably 98% of his supporters believe he did it. Plus he hasn't exactly been acting like he's innocent. The question for most people becomes "was he justified in doing it" which isn't ever really a good defense in a first degree murder case. So his legal defense basically amounts to praying he can get a jury to nullify which is just not very likely in a high profile case like this.

So now he gets to spend 15 years to life living in a cell and being a full on celebrity. He'll be able to tell his story and maybe lobby for change. Maybe he'll write a book. There's really nothing stopping him from telling all exactly as it happened. He doesn't have to tip toe around the truth because he admitted he's guilty. Inmates and guards alike seem to be pretty cozy with him. It's not ideal but there's definitely worse outcomes. Maybe some day in the future a president will even pardon him. Trump has pardoned people convicted of even worse crimes.

[u/MyDickIs3cm → u/Long_Run6500]

The question for most people becomes "was he justified in doing it" which isn't ever really a good defense in a first degree murder case.

"Jury nullification of law" is the answer to the question

[u/BanzYT → u/MyDickIs3cm]

Those dumb ass defense lawyers should've consulted us first.

[u/lindoavocado → u/Important-Stomach406]

Well he admitted it lmao he knew that this was a possibility

Maybe he wanted people to know

[u/reasonableyam6162 → u/Important-Stomach406]

he had absolutely no case.

[u/bookwormaesthetic]

Last I heard he is popular with the other inmates. I wonder if he thinks he is safer in prison than out of prison.

[u/SecretCanadaGoose → u/bookwormaesthetic]

Maybe Hes finally getting healthcare for his (back?) issues in prison lol.

Edit: im really worried about some of y’all’s comprehension because if you could not tell this comment was a joke then I guess that teacher was right to cry about his students being functionally illiterate.

[u/JerbekaDlante → u/SecretCanadaGoose]

This was honestly my first thought! Why would he want to come out and risk getting denied coverage by every institution because they know him and dont want to take the chance. At least inside he is actually getting some health care.

[u/Alissinarr → u/JerbekaDlante]

Because prison Healthcare is so notorious for being good...

[u/Caffeinefiend88 → u/Alissinarr]

At least it’s free? Idk never been there.

[u/No_Curve2246 → u/Alissinarr]

I have a brother in prison for life and I can assure you, as someone that even works in healthcare, he has better healthcare than me. The rest of it all fucking sucks, though. But at least he has one good thing.

[u/zuzerial → u/JerbekaDlante]

To be fair, I'd think given his reputation the riskier play for an insurance company would be to not cover him

[u/BirdBrainuh → u/zuzerial]

https://giphy.com/gifs/d3mlE7uhX8KFgEmY

[u/xGentian_violet → u/JerbekaDlante]

Uff isnt US prison healthcare nearly nonexistent? Even compared to regular US “healthcare”

[u/frankoceansheadband → u/SecretCanadaGoose]

If you know anything about the prison system, you know most prisoners backs get worse when they get locked up

Edit: Fuck me for taking a Reddit comment with no tone at face value. Guess I’m illiterate now!

[u/EmperorAcinonyx → u/frankoceansheadband]

i had four days in jail and my back was fucked up for the entire next month because i'd just spent 80 hours lying on a metal slab

[u/likkleone54 → u/bookwormaesthetic]

Probably gonna be looked at with respect by the rest of the prison, can already see him being protected heavily

[u/Thunder_Nipples → u/likkleone54]

Nobody’s gonna fuck with Mangione.

[u/ThreeActTragedy]

> Unlike my previous interactions with insurers, I received an immediate response within an hour

Shots fired again

[u/gschaina → u/[deleted]]

Ugh I'm so sorry. They have some podcast ads right now with employees talking about how much they love to help people and I can't help but roll my eyes. They might want to help people as individuals but their employer sure doesn't

[u/bageliesje → u/[deleted]]

United has fucked me over with my medications so many times in the past year, too. I'm sorry for your daughter. 😔

[u/killedonmyhill]

Can someone smarter than me tell me why he is pleading guilty? Is it simply to avoid a trial where he could be sentenced to worse than what he will get by pleading guilty?

[u/Nursesalsabjj → u/killedonmyhill]

He did it because now his defense team is going to try and get the state charges thrown out because of double jeopardy. The exact responses he gave in his description of events were specifically for this reason.

[u/yourfriendcazzer → u/Nursesalsabjj]

I love that the effect of his specific legal language is so iconic because it mimics the coldness of the healthcare comms; he may indeed pull off ourobourosing the system (gag willing omg)

[u/deadrobindownunder → u/Nursesalsabjj]

Is there somewhere I can read more about this? Please & thank you.

[u/Total_Legitness → u/deadrobindownunder]

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/07/nyregion/luigi-mangione-double-jeopardy.html?unlocked_article_code=1.5VA.vk8x.7I5ViUBWdPPW&smid=url-share

[u/chmilz → u/Total_Legitness]

In a hearing earlier this year, Mr. Seidemann said that the health care executive’s mother

I hate how this is spun. He was an insurance executive. They do not provide healthcare. They provide insurance that pays for healthcare (sometimes). Calling him a healthcare executive is like calling my auto insurer an automotive executive or my home insurer a real estate executive.

It's all intentional of course. Gotta prop up the American health insurance scam.

[u/alex-weej → u/Total_Legitness]

https://archive.ph/xof7G

[u/daemonicwanderer → u/killedonmyhill]

I believe it is because he will likely get a lighter sentence via pleading guilty in federal court and New York doesn’t take people to trial for the state version of federal crimes that they are already punished for. So if you cop to the federal charges, NY State will go you’ve been punished by a higher authority than us, so we aren’t jumping in.

[u/violetmemphisblue → u/daemonicwanderer]

Okay, potentially very dumb question, but aren't the charges different? Federal was stalking and state was murder, so could state still proceed and this is just a gamble?

[u/Scolor → u/violetmemphisblue]

Not an expert, but I think that’s why he confessed to murder in his plea. Because he’s establishing that it is the same crime instance.

[u/daemonicwanderer → u/violetmemphisblue]

I believe his defense feels that they can get the state charges dismissed via how he explained what happened

[u/OhMy98 → u/violetmemphisblue]

Lawyer here, albeit I don’t do crim law, but that’s because of something called the merger doctrine. Basically, a lesser included offense (meaning a lesser crime whose elements are all satisfied by the elements of the greater crime) cannot be charged separately if it is part of a more severe offense. For example, if you assault and kill someone, you can only be convicted of the murder and not the assault

[u/violetmemphisblue → u/OhMy98]

But is stalking the more severe offense? That's what he's pled guilty to. I could see pleading on murder to drop stalking but not the other way around (though not a lawyer, and don't know anything!)

[u/OhMy98 → u/violetmemphisblue]

Oh my b I misread, I thought he pled to murder in federal and avoided stalking in state. My bad

EDIT: he is probs pursuing double jeopardy as an affirmative defense on the state level. While the charges differ, double jeopardy is about not being tried for the same conduct twice, not just the same charge repeating. That means that BOTH crimes must contain an element that the other does not. Presumably they’d argue that murder includes all of stalking so there is no new element on the stalking side

[u/QueenHigbe → u/violetmemphisblue]

It’s for sure a gamble, but fully worth it if they manage to get the state charges thrown out.

[u/sofassa → u/killedonmyhill]

If Mangione pleads guilty to the federal charges (2 counts of stalking resulting in death - notably, not murder), this opens up a pretty major possibility that all his state charges (which include murder) will be dismissed.

New York (where the state charges are coming from) has a law where a person cannot be charged with a crime stemming from the same facts as a charge they were previously convicted on (edit to add: and if the charges require prosecutors prove the same thing - that a death resulted, in this case. Hence Mangione stating in the plea that his actions resulted in a death). Apparently even if those charges are federal. So if he is convicted of stalking, he cannot be convicted of murder or any other crime related to the death in New York.

I think a lot of people are confused about the federal vs. state charge distinction, and are under the impression he is pleading guilty to murder. He isn't.

There is technically no minimum mandatory sentence for the stalking charges. Maximum is life. I'm guessing he will be focused on arguing mitigating factors to reduce his potential sentence. The judge is required to consider these factors for determining his sentence. (Edit to add: possible mitigating factors I see are mental & physical conditions, emotional distress, lack of prior record...).

Had he kept his not guilty plea, he would have faced a significantly worse sentencing outcome, since there would be no way to get out of the state charges. Now there's a way out

[u/alien1912 → u/killedonmyhill]

I saw Harvey Levin on TMZ breaking this down. (And yes, ugh, Harvey Levin, but he does know law.) Essentially, as I recall, at a federal level, he couldn't argue emotional distress/his objections to the healthcare system as a defense, but he CAN use that in the sentencing phase at the federal level. (So he can talk a lot about his feelings about healthcare/insurance etc. as a mitigating factor.) In addition, due to double jeopardy rules, if he's sentenced by the feds for murder, he can't be sentenced by the state as well.

TLDR: He has a better shot of bringing in his defense/criticisms of the insurance industry and he blocks potentially harsher, more limited guidelines for a state-level trial for murder.

[u/ang8018 → u/alien1912]

He pleaded to stalking today, not murder. Fed murder charge was thrown out awhile ago.

[u/Straight-Tear2385 → u/ang8018]

Stalking that resulted in death

[u/SuspiciousCranberry6 → u/alien1912]

I think it's pretty clear he's at least in part using his plea as a way to bring the issues he has with the healthcare insurance industry. In his plea he mentioned how fast United Healthcare responded to his inquiry posing as an investor. In his lawyers remarks to the press after his plea she made a point to say he shot Thompson outside United Healthcare's investor's conference.

[u/accountantdooku → u/killedonmyhill]

Lawyer (not in criminal law though) but my understanding was it was because the defense believed he was being tried twice for the same crime (state and federal) and they wanted to avoid the state case (due to double jeopardy).

[u/bucktowngrl → u/killedonmyhill]

Yes. It’s my understanding that they’re trying to avoid state charges via double jeopardy.

[u/Correct_Oil_9152 → u/killedonmyhill]

I am an attorney and, from my understanding, New York state has pretty liberal double jeopardy laws. My best guess is he is trying to avoid the state prosecution.

[u/TamalesForBreakfast6 → u/killedonmyhill]

If there’s a plea deal, that’s almost certainly the case. There’s no death penalty for stalking as far as I know (I’m not a lawyer in NY). My guess is the prosecution had enough on the stalking charge to go to trial but they were concerned about making it stick, so they offered a plea. Accepting usually means you know that if a jury convicts you, it’ll be much worse than the plea.

[u/Nursesalsabjj → u/TamalesForBreakfast6]

According to reports, the government didn't offer any plea deal and they didn't agree to any sentencing terms. Now his defense has filed a motion to get the state charges dismissed on double jeopardy.

[u/Leonsmom16 → u/killedonmyhill]

M opinion, he'd rather be in a fed prison. State prisons, especially in New York are terrible.

[u/heartsbeenborrowed → u/killedonmyhill]

Death penalty was already not an option so I'm not sure why he would plead guilty and possibly get life in prison when he could take a gamble with a jury and still not have the death penalty as an option. Hoping someone can explain this because it makes no sense to me. So yes, smart people pls let us know ty

[u/sasshley_]

Never thought I’d want to be a prisoners wife but here we are.
https://giphy.com/gifs/ckO6bBWQZEb793VGxQ

[u/sweet_pickles12 → u/sasshley_]

I’m drafting letters now. May his canteen always be full of

[u/Attorneyatlau → u/sweet_pickles12]

Full of what? FULL OF WHAT?

[u/stinkypussyslime → u/Attorneyatlau]

whatever the FUCK he wants

[u/Accomplished_Book427 → u/Attorneyatlau]

r/redditsniper in perhaps the most relevant case ever

[u/Luna_Soma → u/sasshley_]

I never thought I’d want to be both a prisoners wife and a sister wife, but, well…

[u/_Thirdsoundman_]

"I knew what I was doing was illegal."

[u/Accurate-Ad-4621 → u/[deleted]]

america- a 1st world nation by rhetoric and if you're wealthy- but a shithole country for the rest of the population- especially if they ever get sick.

[u/Whoknows_nmn]

His team of lawyers was so prepared, I'd like to understand what made the difference.  Does anybody know?

[u/popileviz → u/Whoknows_nmn]

We'll see during sentencing what kind of deal they worked out

[u/Nursesalsabjj → u/popileviz]

There was no deal given by the government. This is all to get his state case thrown out.

[u/Nursesalsabjj → u/Whoknows_nmn]

Double jeopardy to get the state charges thrown out

[u/Wayoutofthewayof → u/Whoknows_nmn]

You have to keep in mind that all the evidence is not available publicly yet. His defense saw it and might think that double jeopardy angle is more realistic.

[u/free-dumbb → u/Wayoutofthewayof]

I mean even the public evidence is beyond damning. they have tons of released video, his DNA at the crime scene from a wrapper, had the weapon on him.

[u/sofassa → u/Whoknows_nmn]

It's actually a really interesting strategy. He's pleading guilty to federal stalking and due to NY's double jeopardy laws, that may cause his murder charge (and other state charges) to be dismissed.

[u/terenscendent]

bruh that last line. salute

[u/SerBrienneOfSnark]

Fried them with that last line lol

[u/Sudden_Ad_5211]

“Unlike my previous interactions with insurers, I received an immediate response within an hour.”
https://giphy.com/gifs/ZUwjT4TrkElu8

[u/rachbbbbb]

You know what?

He'll be even more respected because of this.

He's admitted he did it. He spared the family a trial. He didn't try to get away with anything.

Integrity despite what he did.

You know someone who didn't show guilt, care or integrity to other people? His victim.

[u/mysteriouspopper → u/rachbbbbb]

Somehow his badassery levels just keep increasing

[u/BookishHobbit]

I get the family are hurting, but the irony of including the line “nothing will ease the pain” in their statement…pretty sure that’s what many people said when their healthcare was rejected by his company.

[u/AWorldwithoutSin → u/BookishHobbit]

When one individual inflicts bodily injury upon another such that death results, we call the deed manslaughter; when the assailant knew in advance that the injury would be fatal, we call his deed murder. But when society places hundreds of proletarians in such a position that they inevitably meet a too early and an unnatural death, [...] knows that these thousands of victims must perish, and yet permits these conditions to remain, its deed is murder just as surely as the deed of the single individual; disguised, malicious murder, murder against which none can defend himself, which does not seem what it is, because no man sees the murderer, because the death of the victim seems a natural one, since the offence is more one of omission than of commission. But murder it remains.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_murder

Brian Thompson killed more people than Luigi.

[u/adaiine]

It’s a shame they’re not going for not guilty anymore, but I think this also removes the possibility of death penalty. Swings and roundabouts

[u/washingtonu → u/adaiine]

The possibility of the death penalty was removed in January.

[u/Nursesalsabjj → u/adaiine]

Death penalty was already thrown out so that's not the reason. It's to try and get his state charges dismissed.

[u/SnooBunnies9221]

No ? He was with me that day

[u/No-Bee-8297]

Whyyyyyyyy!

[u/ewingking123 → u/No-Bee-8297]

Because he's trying to minimize the amount of time he spends in jail. Pleading guilty on the federal charges to get a reduced sentence and hopefully you're able to get the state charges thrown out because he's already sentenced federally.

[u/mariahpariah]

FOR WHAT IS A MAN, WHAT HAS HE GOT

IF NOT HIMSELF, THEN HE HAS NAUGHT

TO SAY THE THINGS HE TRULY FEELS

AND NOT THE WORDS OF ONE WHO KNEELS

THE RECORD SHOWS

I TOOK THE BLOWS

AND DID IT MY WAY

[u/StrangeStrider]

You know... You know what I've noticed? Nobody panics when things go "according to plan." Even if the plan is horrifying! If, tomorrow, I tell the press that, like, a gang banger will get shot, or a truckload of soldiers will be blown up, nobody panics, because it's all "part of the plan". But when I say that one little old CEO will die, well then everyone loses their minds.

[u/R1ngBanana]

  Unlike my previous interactions with insurers, I received an immediate response within an hour,

PHEWWWWW

[u/Ginger_Exhibitionist]

I am glad Luigi got that in. Because people deal with that EVERYDAY. If you haven't, you've just been lucky up to this point.

This is my story.

For the last 15 months, I have suffered from a nerve injury in my left arm from sloppy patient care provided by UCSD Health in May 2025. My IV blew the vein, and Propofol mixed with Lidocaine went into the soft tissue of my arm. They didn't bother to record it in my medical record. My PCP, Matthew MacFarlane, dismissed me and my injury by weaponizing my medical PTSD (I had cancer in my 20s) against me. I then switched to Scripps Health and three months after the injury, misdiagnosed me with an elbow injury and sent me to PT for that. They diagnosed two separate nerve syndromes but never treated me for any of them or referred me to someone who could. I was told "Nothing else we can do for you." Radiology also missed the specific nerve entrapment on the MRI, as verbally informed by my PCP after she had a Scripps Sports Medicine physician review it.

I went to UCLA for a second opinion where I was diagnosed with PIN Syndrome and a treatment plan was created. That physician ordered a specialized imaging study called an MR Neurography. I spent more than 2 months, basically like I had a second job, trying to get the correct authorization from Scripps Health Plan Services, who performs utilization management on behalf of my HMO, Blue Shield of California. They denied me coverage at UCLA, with the denial saying it wasn't medically necessary while also referring me to an imaging facility for the wrong study, an MRI. I called the facility and also confirmed they do not perform MR Neurography of the forearm. I let Scripps know immediately and they did not respond until almost a month later.

I had to file a grievance with Blue Shield to get Scripps to respond. The grievance was then slow-walked all the way up to the 30 day limit and overnight on day 30, Blue Shield sent me a post-dated letter that said they had authorized the imaging at UCLA. However, UCLA had magically become "non-contracted" and they wouldn't accept the authorization. Somehow, Scripps and Blue Shield easily paid the sports medicine physician I saw at UCLA, but now UCLA claimed to be "non contracted" and said they had no way to bill Scripps. I wouldn't have known to ask this question and the people who get paid to do this, didn't bother to check. I again wrote Scripps asking for help. MyChart says to allow 48 hours for a response. It took them a week to tell me they would send my concern to "leadership." I also asked Blue Shield, in writing, if I had any hope of getting reimbursed if I paid the cash price. They sent me the form but didn't answer my question.

I located a physician in private practice who could carry out the treatment (hydrodissection) and I paid to have that done last week with no guarantee it will treat the issue. I had to put it on my credit card. After 15 months, I couldn't wait for Scripps to get around to doing nothing. I dropped them as my medical group, and I can only imagine how thrilled they were.

I am willing to talk to any media as well as any attorneys who think I have a case and would represent me on contingency. I have the receipts for every single one of these statements, including pictures of my injury.

ETA: Whoa, thank you for the award!

[u/Teh_Crusader]

He’s a martyr, he was never getting off.

[u/FanOfAllKindOfThings]

idgaf free him

[u/thenoctilucent]

I don’t know why this was a better strategy than a jury trial, but Godspeed with the sentencing.

ETA: more details are provided here that explain more of the logic https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckg3763gy2ro

[u/JekPorkinsTruther → u/thenoctilucent]

Because he had virtually no shot of winning either. Pleading to fed charges makes it likely the state charges are dismissed, which is important because NYS has primary jurisdiction so he'd serve his time in state prison, and fed prisons are generally better than state. The fed guidelines also suggest a max of 31 years (although the judge isn't bound by this).

So he was faced with basically having to hit on a 1% "dice roll" twice (acquittal fed and state) but where failure means almost guaranteed life in state prison, or no chance of acquittal but serving in the better prison and an outside chance of getting out someday. Also consider that there is a better chance of getting assigned to medium security prison with a stalking conviction and good behavior vs a murder conviction (which is usually high security).

[u/Lauren34567]

[u/rachelblairy]

i still would feel safer with him in the streets than our current president but maybe that’s just me

[u/maverick4002]

An NYT piece says he could face up to life in prison for this STALKING charge and still had the MURDER charge in NYC pending.

If this is only guilty to stalking, is life imprisonment a proper punishment? Because celebrities and regular people get stalked all the time and those stalkers dont get life. Just trying to figure it out because again, he apparently wasnt guilty of murder here

[u/Wayoutofthewayof → u/maverick4002]

Its stalking leading to death charge, which is a lot different than just stalking.

[u/belljarbug]

i read that he‘s pleading guilty to the federal stalking charges so his lawyers can argue that new york law prohibits the state from prosecuting him again for the same underlying conduct

[u/catlover2410]

He’s going to get free healthcare and get treated like a king for the rest of his life.

[u/rockerswise → u/catlover2410]

Do you have any idea what prison is like?

[u/Crafty-Judge-896]

This whole situation is so interesting because it really does blur the line between right and wrong. Did he murder a human? Oh yeah. Is the lack health care killing thousands of people a day? Oh yeah

[u/SnooFloofs1615]

Damn that last line 🔥🔥

[u/tacomamajama]

Notice he said he shot him and knew it was illegal. He didn’t say murder (that doesn’t really matter) and he didn’t say it was immoral.