A Minnesota man is facing federal charges after allegedly impersonating an FBI agent in a brazen attempt to break alleged CEO killer Luigi Mangione out of a New York City detention facility.
Mark Anderson was taken into custody at the Metropolitan Detention Center after approaching the intake area with what prosecutors say was a fabricated plan to secure Mangione’s release.
According to court documents, Anderson walked up to the detention center’s intake area claiming he possessed a judicial order authorizing Mangione’s freedom.
Mangione currently awaits trial on charges related to the murder of UnitedHealth CEO Brian Thompson.
When corrections officers requested Anderson present proper identification, he made a startling announcement. He informed staff that weapons were contained inside his personal bag.
A search of Anderson’s belongings revealed items that raised immediate red flags among facility personnel.
Guards discovered a barbecue fork and what appeared to be a round steel blade resembling a pizza cutter, according to NBC News reports that reviewed the official court filings.
The situation escalated when corrections officers began questioning Anderson’s credentials and authority.
As staff members determined he was not actually affiliated with the FBI, Anderson allegedly threw a stack of papers at Bureau of Prisons employees.
When asked to produce the court order he claimed authorized Mangione’s release, Anderson reportedly showed corrections staff an assortment of unrelated documents.
Among the papers was one that contained information about filing lawsuits against the Department of Justice, officials stated.
The criminal complaint filed against Anderson provides additional details about the documents he presented.
“Anderson also displayed and threw at (Bureau of Prisons) officers numerous documents,” the complaint indicated.
“They appear to be related to filing claims against the United States Department of Justice.”
Federal authorities moved quickly to place Anderson under arrest. He now faces charges of impersonating a federal agent, a serious felony offense that carries significant penalties.
Court documents reveal that Anderson had traveled to New York City seeking employment opportunities. However, the job prospect he pursued ultimately did not materialize, leaving him in the city.
During his time in New York, Anderson had been employed at a pizza establishment, according to reporting by the New York Post.
This detail emerged as investigators pieced together his movements and activities leading up to the incident.
Anderson is scheduled to make his initial court appearance on Thursday.
He will face a federal magistrate judge who will determine conditions for his detention or potential release pending trial.
The timing of Anderson’s alleged scheme is particularly noteworthy as the incident occurred just days before Mangione was scheduled for his own court appearance related to the murder charges he faces.
Mangione has been held at the Metropolitan Detention Center since his arrest in connection with the high-profile killing of the UnitedHealth executive.
The case has drawn national attention given the prominence of the victim and circumstances surrounding the alleged crime.
