Aug 13 (Reuters) - Luigi Mangione, the man accused of

gunning down a health insurance executive on a Manhattan

sidewalk, is expected to plead guilty in a federal case charging

him with stalking, the New York Times reported on Thursday,

citing two people with knowledge of the matter.

A guilty plea would avert a trial in the closely watched case

over the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, a

brazen crime that was condemned by public officials but became

emblematic of Americans' frustration with health insurance

industry practices. It could also delay Mangione's trial next

month on state murder charges.

Representatives for Mangione and the Manhattan U.S. Attorney's

Office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

A federal judge would need to accept Mangione's guilty plea. He

previously pleaded not guilty in April 2025 to murder, weapons

and stalking charges brought by Manhattan federal prosecutors.

U.S. District Judge Margaret Garnett, who is overseeing the

case, threw out the murder and weapons charges over legal

technicalities in a surprise ruling in January. The decision

eliminated the possibility that Mangione would face the death

penalty, though he still faces a possible sentence of life

without parole if convicted on the remaining stalking charges.

His federal trial was most recently set for January.

Mangione separately pleaded not guilty in December 2024 to state

terrorism, murder, weapons and forgery charges brought by

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. The terrorism charges

were thrown out by a judge in September 2025.

A trial in that case is scheduled for September 8 before Justice

Gregory Carro in Manhattan.

If he pleads guilty in the federal case, Mangione is likely to

seek dismissal of the murder charge under New York's double

jeopardy law, which protects people from being prosecuted twice

for the same conduct. Bragg's office would oppose the move,

arguing that the murder charge is legally distinct from the

federal charges. Whoever loses would likely seek an emergency

appeal.

Thompson led UnitedHealth Group's ( UNH ) insurance unit

before he was shot dead in the early morning outside a hotel

where an investor conference was taking place.

Graphic footage of the killing and a five-day manhunt for a

suspect made the case a media fixture and social media

sensation. Mangione was arrested in Pennsylvania.