A bizarre incident unfolded at a Brooklyn jail on Wednesday when a Minnesota man, armed with a BBQ fork and a pizza cutter, was apprehended after allegedly attempting to impersonate an FBI agent. His audacious goal? To orchestrate the release of high-profile inmate Luigi Mangione.
The criminal complaint lodged in the Eastern District of New York outlines how Mark Anderson was arrested at the Metropolitan Detention Center. Anderson had purportedly claimed he possessed a court order that authorized the release of an inmate. While the complaint omits the inmate’s identity, an insider from law enforcement circles confirmed to Fox News that the target was Mangione. Mangione is notably charged with the 2024 murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
At approximately 6:50 p.m., Anderson allegedly approached the intake area of the facility, presenting himself as an FBI agent. He asserted that he had paperwork endorsed by a judge, which ostensibly sanctioned the inmate’s release.
In a peculiar twist, when officers requested federal identification, Anderson reportedly offered only his Minnesota driver’s license. He further claimed to be armed and threw a pile of documents at the officers. An FBI agent later identified these documents as legal claims against the U.S. Department of Justice.
Luigi Mangione’s legal woes have attracted significant attention, particularly as he awaits trial for the murder of Brian Thompson. The events at the jail add another layer of intrigue to an already high-profile case.
When asked for federal credentials, Anderson reportedly presented his Minnesota driver’s license, claimed he was carrying weapons, and threw a stack of documents at officers that an FBI agent described as legal claims against the U.S. Department of Justice.
Officers detained Anderson on the spot and searched his backpack, where they found a large barbecue-type fork and a pizza cutter.
A Minnesota man allegedly posing as an FBI agent was arrested at a Brooklyn jail after trying to free Luigi Mangione using fake paperwork and odd weapons. (Department of Justice)
The New York City Police Department and FBI later responded, and Anderson was taken into federal custody.
Authorities said no inmate was released, and the incident did not disrupt facility operations.
Mark Anderson allegedly tried to free Luigi Mangione from a Brooklyn jail by posting as an FBI agent. Authorities said he was armed with a BBQ fork and a pizza cutter. (Eduardo Munoz/Reuters)
Anderson is charged with impersonating a federal officer, a felony that carries a potential sentence of up to three years in prison.
Mangione has been held at the MDC since his arrest in connection with the fatal shooting of Thompson, a killing that drew national attention and intensified scrutiny around executive security. He remains in custody as the case proceeds.
