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The former Ivy League computer scientist-turned-suspected corporate assassin, Luigi Mangione, 26, is unlikely to face federal charges in the murder-for-hire of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, according to experts.
While murder is typically not a crime that falls under federal jurisdiction, there are certain circumstances in which it can be. Hiring a hitman who crosses state lines to commit a murder-for-hire is a federal crime, but crossing state lines oneself to commit one is not.
Mangione is currently facing a second-degree murder charge in New York state, which does not have the death penalty. Even if he were to be charged federally, the only aggravating factor to support the death penalty is that the murder involved substantial planning and premeditation, according to Neama Rahmani, a former federal prosecutor.
It is rare for the federal government to seek the death penalty, and it typically happens in cases of extreme violence. Prospects for a federal prosecution are further complicated by the planned change in the US attorney in the Southern District of New York, which could hinder a potential federal case.
The NYPD has already built a strong case against Mangione, with investigators matching his fingerprints and weapon to the murder scene. While some experts expect the police to handle the case, others believe it is possible but unlikely that Mangione will be charged federally.
