Baffling attempt to bust Luigi Mangione out of prison
Moderated by Tomas Kauer 
A Minnesota man was arrested and charged with impersonating an FBI agent after he tried to enter a federal jail and release suspected murderer Luigi Mangione, police sources said.
Mark Anderson, 36, arrived at the Metropolitan Detention Centre in Brooklyn, New York, on Wednesday evening claiming he was an FBI agent with a court order for Mangione's release, according to a criminal complaint filed yesterday and a law enforcement source.
When officials with the Bureau of Prisons asked the man for his credentials, according to the complaint, the man provided a Minnesota driver's licence.
READ MORE: China executes 11 members of Ming family who ran billion-dollar criminal empire in Myanmar
He also allegedly stated he had weapons in his bag.
Anderson then allegedly threw paperwork at the BOP officers.
The papers appeared to be related to legal claims against the Justice Department, according to the FBI agent who signed the complaint.
Prison officials searched Anderson's backpack, according to the complaint, and found a barbecue-style fork and a circular steel blade.
Anderson travelled to New York for a potential job that didn't work out and had been working at a pizzeria before his arrest, the law enforcement source told CNN.
It isn't clear what connection, if any, he has to Mangione.
CNN has reached out to Mangione's attorney.
Anderson, who is charged with one count of falsely pretending to be an officer of the US government, is expected to appear in federal court in Brooklyn yesterday afternoon.
Mangione has been held at the federal jail since his arrest in December 2024 for the suspected murder of UnitedHealthcare chief executive Brian Thompson.
He is facing federal and state murder charges and has pleaded not guilty.
READ MORE: Man who squirted vinegar on politician is charged with assaulting and intimidating her
The judge overseeing his federal trial last week said jury selection in that case would begin on September 8, with opening statements commencing in October if she ruled the Justice Department could not pursue the death penalty — or in January 2027 if the capital charge remains.
A ruling is expected today.
On Wednesday, the Manhattan District Attorney's office, which first filed murder charges, asked the judge overseeing the state case to order its trial for July — two months before the federal case.
Assistant District Attorney Joel Seidemann said the murder took place in Manhattan, the investigation was led by his office and the New York Police Department, and the state indictment was returned before a federal complaint was filed.
"The State has an overriding interest in trying this defendant for the cold-blooded execution of Brian Thompson on December 4, 2024. It resulted in the tragic death of a guest to our city on our streets," he wrote.
"Federal law supports our request that we proceed first and our right to a speedy resolution of this case would be severely compromised should the federal trial proceed first."
In a statement, Mangione's lawyer, Karen Friedman Agnifilo, said they needed time to prepare for the federal trial.
NEVER MISS A STORY: Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.
- Download the 9NEWS App here via Apple and Google Play
- Make 9News your preferred source on Google by ticking this box here
- Sign up to our breaking newsletter here
