Man arrested after allegedly impersonating FBI agent in attempt to free Luigi Mangione from federal jail

A Minnesota man is facing federal charges after authorities say he impersonated an FBI agent in an alleged attempt to free suspected murderer Luigi Mangione from custody.

According to court documents, 36-year-old Mark Anderson arrived Wednesday evening at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, claiming he was an FBI agent carrying a court order for Mangione’s release. When Bureau of Prisons officers asked for credentials, Anderson allegedly provided a Minnesota driver’s license and said he had weapons in his bag.

Officials reported that Anderson threw paperwork at officers, which appeared to relate to legal claims against the Justice Department. A search of his backpack reportedly uncovered a barbecue-style fork and a circular steel blade.

Law enforcement sources told CNN that Anderson had recently traveled to New York for a job opportunity that fell through and had been working at a pizzeria prior to his arrest. Authorities say it remains unclear whether Anderson had any personal connection to Mangione.

Anderson has been charged with falsely pretending to be an officer of the U.S. government and is expected to appear in federal court in Brooklyn.

Mangione has been held at the federal jail since his December 2024 arrest in connection with the suspected murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. He faces both federal and state murder charges and has pleaded not guilty.

A federal judge has scheduled jury selection for September, with trial timing dependent on whether prosecutors are allowed to pursue the death penalty. Meanwhile, Manhattan prosecutors are seeking to move forward with a state trial as early as July.

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