Authorities have arrested a Minnesota man accused of impersonating a federal law enforcement officer in a bold and highly unusual attempt to spring an accused killer from a New York jail.
Mark Anderson, 36, was charged Thursday after allegedly showing up at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn and posing as an FBI agent while claiming to have a court order to secure the release of Luigi Mangione, according to multiple reports citing law enforcement sources, including ABC News. Investigators say Anderson drove from Minnesota to New York with the apparent goal of breaking Mangione out of federal custody.
Mangione is currently behind bars facing a murder charge in connection with the shooting death of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, a case that has drawn national attention. He is scheduled to appear in court on Thursday. Anderson is also expected to appear before a judge sometime Thursday in connection with the alleged impersonation and attempted jailbreak.
According to a criminal complaint obtained by ABC News, Anderson arrived at the detention center claiming to be a federal agent and told prison officials he had authorization to release a prisoner. While the complaint itself did not name Mangione, law enforcement sources confirmed to ABC News that Mangione was the inmate Anderson was allegedly trying to have released.
The scheme quickly fell apart. Anderson reportedly presented a driver’s license and paperwork to detention center officials but failed to provide legitimate federal credentials to back up his claim. Authorities say it became clear that Anderson was not who he said he was and did not have the authority he claimed.
The complaint also alleges that Anderson was armed at the time. Investigators say he was carrying a bag that contained weapons, including a pizza cutter and a barbecue fork. While unconventional, the presence of those items reportedly raised additional red flags for authorities responding to the situation.
Law enforcement officials moved swiftly once the alleged deception was uncovered, leading to Anderson’s arrest without Mangione ever leaving custody. There were no reports of injuries or further incidents at the detention center as a result of the attempted ruse.
Mangione, meanwhile, continues to face serious legal trouble of his own. He has pleaded not guilty to both state and federal charges stemming from the killing of Thompson. State prosecutors are seeking to begin Mangione’s trial on July 1, which would take place roughly three months before his federal case is scheduled to move forward.
In the federal case, jury selection is set to begin on September 8. However, the actual start date of the federal trial remains uncertain. Whether proceedings begin in October or are pushed to January will depend on a pending decision by a judge regarding Mangione’s request to have the death penalty taken off the table.
The alleged impersonation has added another bizarre chapter to an already high-profile case. Authorities have not indicated whether Anderson had any personal connection to Mangione or what motivated him to allegedly attempt such a risky and unlikely escape plan.
For now, Mangione remains in custody, facing the prospect of two major trials, while Anderson faces charges of his own for what prosecutors say was a reckless and dangerous attempt to deceive federal authorities and interfere with the justice system.
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