Jailbreak: Fake FBI Agent STORMS Brooklyn Jail

A Minnesota man armed with a pizza cutter and barbecue fork tried to spring an accused CEO killer from a Brooklyn federal jail by impersonating an FBI agent, exposing how celebrity worship of violent criminals has spiraled into dangerous, real-world consequences.

Story Highlights

Mark Anderson, 36, arrested at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center attempting to free Luigi Mangione with fake FBI credentials
Anderson carried a pizza cutter and BBQ fork as weapons, claiming a fabricated court order for Mangione’s release
The bizarre jailbreak attempt highlights the dangerous cult following around Mangione, accused of murdering UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson
Federal prosecutors charged Anderson with impersonating a federal officer, facing up to three years in prison

Amateur Impersonation Foiled at Federal Facility

Mark Anderson walked into the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn on January 28, 2026, around 6:50 p.m., claiming to be an FBI agent with paperwork ordering Luigi Mangione’s release. Bureau of Prisons officers immediately questioned his credentials. Anderson produced only a Minnesota driver’s license, threw documents at officers when pressed, and admitted to carrying weapons in his backpack. Officers discovered a circular steel pizza cutter blade and a barbecue fork—makeshift weapons from his recent job at a New York City pizzeria. The NYPD and FBI responded swiftly, placing Anderson in federal custody without incident or disruption to jail operations.

Mangione’s Anti-Corporate Icon Status Fuels Support

Luigi Mangione, 27, sits in the notorious MDC Brooklyn facility awaiting dual federal and state trials for the December 2024 murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. The Ivy League graduate from a wealthy Maryland family has attracted a bizarre following among anti-health insurance activists who view him as a hero fighting corporate greed. Supporters wear green “Luigi” attire referencing Mario Bros. video games and wave “Free Luigi” signs at court hearings. This lionization of violence against business leaders reflects a troubling trend where grievances against corporations justify murder in the eyes of some activists, undermining law and order.

Serious Charges Contrast Comedic Execution

Anderson faces federal charges for impersonating a federal officer, carrying up to three years imprisonment. He appeared in Brooklyn federal court on January 29 for his initial hearing. Meanwhile, Mangione confronts far graver consequences: federal murder, stalking, and firearms charges, with jury selection scheduled for September 8, 2026. Manhattan prosecutors pushed for a July 1, 2027 state trial just hours before Anderson’s attempt. Law enforcement sources confirmed Anderson targeted Mangione specifically, though his exact motivations remain unclear. The pizza cutter and fork—likely tied to Anderson’s pizzeria work after another job fell through—add absurd elements to what prosecutors treat as a serious felony.

Security Questions and Copycat Concerns

The incident raises questions about security protocols at MDC Brooklyn, which houses high-profile inmates like Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and rape defendants Oren and Tal Alexander. Anderson’s low-tech approach failed instantly, but the attempt spotlights vulnerabilities when public figures become folk heroes to fringe activists. Short-term implications include heightened security measures and potential delays in Mangione’s proceedings. Long-term risks involve copycat attempts by others swept up in the dangerous romanticization of political violence. The Trump administration sought the death penalty in Mangione’s federal case, though one report suggests Judge Margaret Garnett ruled against it on January 29 or 30, pending official confirmation.

Federal authorities swiftly neutralized this amateurish rescue attempt, but the broader cultural issue persists. When segments of society celebrate accused murderers as anti-establishment symbols, they erode respect for constitutional order and the rule of law. Anderson’s arrest serves as a warning: glorifying violence against business leaders—regardless of legitimate critiques of corporate practices—invites chaos and vigilantism incompatible with civil society. Americans who value safety, justice, and due process must reject this lawless trend before more lives are endangered by misguided hero worship.