An American man was arrested for impersonating an FBI agent and attempting to deceive officials at a federal prison into releasing Luigi Mangione, the suspect in the 2024 murder of the CEO of insurance company United Healthcare.
Mark Anderson, a 36-year-old from Minnesota, was arrested last Thursday (29 Jan) on charges of impersonating an officer. According to the indictment, Anderson entered a federal prison in Brooklyn the previous Wednesday and told prison staff he was from the FBI, presenting what appeared to be a valid release order for Mangione, signed by a judge. However, when prison officials asked to see his badge, Anderson instead showed a Minnesota driver's license and claimed to be armed before throwing various papers at the staff.
Officials then detained and searched Anderson's bag, finding a large barbecue fork and a thin, round metal object resembling a pizza cutter. This aligns with police reports that Anderson traveled from Minnesota to New York City seeking employment and had been working at a pizza restaurant.
Anderson appeared in court last Thursday but did not enter a plea. International news agencies have attempted to contact his attorney for further information. The jury selection for Luigi Mangione's high-profile trial is scheduled for the upcoming September.
Mangione has been held in a Brooklyn detention center since 2024 after a nationwide police manhunt led to his arrest at a fast-food restaurant in Pennsylvania. He was transferred to New York to face charges of second-degree murder for killing Brian Thompson, CEO of the major U.S. insurance company United Healthcare. He was acquitted of first-degree and second-degree murder charges under New York's anti-terrorism laws due to insufficient evidence.
Since his arrest, Mangione has received widespread support both online and from people who have shown up at court appearances, sympathizing with his actions. Meanwhile, the murder case has sparked nationwide debate in the U.S. about the high costs of the healthcare system.
. BBC
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