Man Accused of Impersonating FBI Agent in Attempt to Free Luigi Mangione From New York Jail

NEW YORK (AP) – U.S. authorities say a man who claimed to be an FBI agent attempted to secure the release of Luigi Mangione from a federal detention center in New York, presenting what he said were court-authorized documents. The attempt failed, and the man was arrested and charged with impersonating a federal officer.

The episode unfolded at a critical moment in Mangione’s legal cases, as judges weigh trial schedules and whether federal prosecutors may seek the death penalty. Mangione is being held while facing both state and federal murder charges in the killing of UnitedHealthcare chief executive Brian Thompson.

The incident adds an unusual dimension to a case that has already drawn intense public attention, including visible demonstrations of support for Mangione outside courtrooms.

Attempted jail release and arrest

According to a federal criminal complaint, the suspect, identified as Mark Anderson, arrived at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn on Wednesday evening and told officers he was an FBI agent. Authorities say he claimed to have paperwork signed by a judge authorizing the release of an unnamed inmate.

When asked to present official credentials, Anderson allegedly produced only a Minnesota driver’s license. The complaint says he threw documents toward officers and claimed to possess weapons, prompting jail staff to detain and search him.

Investigators later determined that the documents did not authorize any inmate’s release and appeared instead to relate to legal filings against the U.S. Justice Department. A law enforcement official familiar with the case confirmed that the inmate Anderson sought to free was Mangione. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly.

Anderson was charged with impersonating a federal officer and ordered held without bail following his initial court appearance on Thursday in federal court in Brooklyn. He was not required to enter a plea and is now himself being held at the same detention center.

Items found and background details

Authorities say officers found a barbecue fork and a small circular metal blade in Anderson’s bag during the search. Images included in the criminal complaint depict the blade as resembling a pizza cutter wheel.

Court and public records indicate Anderson, 36, is originally from Minnesota and has a history of drug- and alcohol-related arrests in Minnesota and Wisconsin. In filings connected to a civil lawsuit last year, Anderson stated that he has multiple disabilities and has been deemed fully disabled due to mental illness by the U.S. Social Security Administration.

In that lawsuit, which alleged injuries from a fall at a New York City homeless shelter, Anderson said he had no income and relied on state and federal assistance. Records show he has lived in New York City since at least 2023, staying at shelters, motels, and apartments in the Bronx.

Authorities also note that Anderson has pending cases in New York, including one in which he is accused of displaying a firearm. Requests for comment from his court-appointed attorney were not immediately returned.

Pattern of legal filings

Court records show Anderson has previously filed handwritten lawsuits against various entities, including the Pentagon, foreign diplomats, and law enforcement agencies. Those cases were dismissed. Another lawsuit, alleging labor violations by a Bronx pizzeria, remains pending.

A law enforcement official said Anderson moved to New York after a job opportunity did not materialize and later worked at a pizzeria. His driver’s license lists an address in Mankato, Minnesota.

While none of those filings were directly connected to the alleged jail incident, authorities cited them as part of a broader pattern reviewed during the investigation.

Mangione’s legal cases move forward

The attempted impersonation occurred during a pivotal week in Mangione’s prosecution. Earlier Wednesday, the Manhattan district attorney’s office urged a state judge to schedule Mangione’s trial for July 1.

Mangione is scheduled to appear in federal court on Friday for a conference before U.S. District Judge Margaret Garnett. She is expected to rule in the coming weeks on whether federal prosecutors may seek the death penalty and whether certain evidence can be introduced at trial.

Judge Garnett has already scheduled jury selection in the federal case for September 8. Depending on pretrial rulings, the trial itself could begin later this year or early next year. Mangione has pleaded not guilty to all charges. The state case carries the possibility of life imprisonment.

High-profile killing and public reaction

Brian Thompson, 50, was fatally shot on December 4, 2024, as he walked to a hotel in midtown Manhattan for UnitedHealth Group’s annual investor conference. Surveillance footage showed a masked gunman approaching from behind and opening fire.

Prosecutors say words associated with criticism of insurance industry practices were written on the ammunition recovered at the scene, a detail that has drawn significant attention to the case.

Mangione, a 27-year-old graduate of an Ivy League university from a wealthy Maryland family, was arrested five days later at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania. After initial court proceedings there, he was transferred to New York and placed in the Metropolitan Detention Center.

The case has attracted supporters who have attended court hearings wearing green clothing, a reference to the video game character Luigi, and carrying signs calling for Mangione’s release or opposing capital punishment.

A detention center under scrutiny

The Metropolitan Detention Center has long faced criticism over conditions and security issues and has housed several high-profile inmates over the years. Federal prison records confirm that Anderson is currently being held there following his arrest.

Authorities have not suggested that the impersonation attempt compromised jail security or posed a broader threat. The investigation remains focused on Anderson’s actions and the alleged misrepresentation of federal authority.