Luigi Mangione is expected to plead guilty in federal court in New York City on Friday, August 14, 2026, in connection with stalking charges involving UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson . The anticipated plea could affect Mangione’s New York state murder case, which is scheduled to start September 8. According to reporting cited by Rolling Stone, plea negotiations could still change before the hearing. Mangione, 28, has pleaded not guilty to every state and federal charge, and his federal court appearance had previously been set for January 2027. Could a Federal Plea Affect the Murder Case? Mangione faces two federal stalking counts carrying a maximum sentence of life in prison without parole. Federal prosecutors previously dropped a firearm murder charge that could have exposed Mangione to the death penalty, along with another firearms charge, in January. Criminal defense attorney Catherine Christian said a federal plea would not guarantee a specific sentence because prosecutors can recommend a guideline range, but Judge Margaret Garnett would have the final say. Christian, a former Manhattan District Attorney’s Office prosecutor who is not involved in the case, said the federal charges may give prosecutors greater leverage than the state murder charge, which carries a possible sentence of 25 years to life. Double jeopardy protections could become a major battleground if Mangione admits through a federal plea that he intended to kill Thompson and carried out the killing, according to Christian’s analysis. Mangione is accused of killing Thompson in Midtown Manhattan on December 4, 2024, and was arrested five days later; any impact on the state prosecution would ultimately depend on the plea terms and the courts’ rulings.