A man accused of impersonating a federal agent in a bid to allegedly free Luigi Mangione, the man accused of gunning down the CEO of United Healthcare in 2024, has been arrested.
Mark Anderson, 36, is accused of going to the New York jail where Mangione is being housed and allegedly posing as an FBI agent, a criminal complaint states. He allegedly said he had paperwork that had been 'signed by a judge' to free the accused killer.
Though the complaint does not name Mangione, a law enforcement source told the BBC that Anderson allegedly sought to free him.
He appeared before a judge on Thursday but has not entered a plea. The BBC has contacted an attorney said to be representing him.
Anderson approached the intake area of the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn on Wednesday and is accused of telling officers that he was an FBI agent. According to the criminal complaint, he claimed to have paperwork 'signed by a judge' for the release of an inmate.
When officers asked him for credentials, Anderson provided a Minnesota driver's license, said he had weapons, and reportedly threw what authorities described as 'numerous documents' at jail staff.
Bureau of Prisons officials detained Anderson after searching his bag, where they found a large 'barbecue type fork' and a tool resembling a pizza cutter.
The suspect had moved to New York City for a job opportunity from Mankato, Minnesota, where he reportedly worked at a local pizzeria.
Anderson is facing a charge of impersonating an officer.
Mangione has been held at the Brooklyn jail since 2024 after being arrested in a McDonald's in Pennsylvania following a multi-state manhunt. He faces state and federal charges related to the killing of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson and has pleaded not guilty.
Since his arrest, Mangione has garnered a following both online and during court appearances, as the case prompts debates around healthcare costs in the U.S. Jury selection for Mangione's federal trial is set for September.
