NEW YORK — Federal authorities have unveiled a startling jail security breach attempt involving an impersonator who allegedly tried to secure the release of Luigi Mangione, the prime suspect in the sensational murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Mark Anderson, 36, now faces serious charges following his arrest at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn on Wednesday evening.
According to court documents, correctional officers grew suspicious when Anderson presented himself as a federal agent but failed to produce legitimate credentials. When pressed for identification, he could only offer his state driver’s license before making concerning claims about carrying weapons. A subsequent search of his backpack revealed unconventional items: a large barbecue fork and a circular steel blade resembling a pizza cutter, raising questions about his intentions.
The criminal complaint indicates Anderson insisted he possessed judicial documentation authorizing the release of a specific detainee. While the court filing did not name the intended inmate, judicial sources confirmed the target was Mangione, whose alleged crime had already ignited national debates about healthcare system failures.
The December 2024 shooting of Thompson, captured on surveillance footage, had previously drawn attention to public frustrations with America’s profit-oriented healthcare infrastructure. Mangione maintains his innocence against both federal and state charges, with his federal trial scheduled to commence jury selection on September 8.
This incident has prompted reviews of detention center security protocols and raised concerns about potential external efforts to interfere with high-stakes criminal proceedings.