Man With BBQ Fork And Pizza Cutter Posed As FBI Agent To Break Suspected Assassin Out Of Jail

In one of the strangest attempts to interfere with a federal detention operation in recent memory, a Minnesota man allegedly walked into the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn claiming to be an FBI agent armed not with a badge or handgun, but with a pizza cutter and a barbecue fork in an apparent bid to free a suspected killer.

36‑year‑old Mark Anderson, recently relocated to New York City from Minnesota and reportedly working at a pizza parlor, was arrested and charged Thursday with impersonating a federal agent after the bizarre incident unfolded Wednesday night.

According to a criminal complaint, Anderson walked up to the jail’s intake area claiming he had a court order “signed by a judge” to release an inmate. When jail staff asked for credentials, Anderson instead produced his Minnesota driver’s license and significantly, admitted he had weapons in his bag.

Upon inspection, correction officers discovered the “weapons” were a pizza cutter and a barbecue fork tools more suited to cooking than law enforcement. Confronted with the absurd reality of his equipment and claims, Anderson was taken into custody.

Law enforcement sources told local outlets that Anderson’s target was Luigi Mangione, the suspected assassin of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, who is being held at the same facility while his high‑profile murder case moves forward.

Who is Mangione?

Mangione, 27, a University of Pennsylvania graduate, was arrested in connection with the December 4, 2024, ambush shooting death of CEO Brian Thompson on a New York City street. He faces charges at both the state and federal levels the federal case exposing him to the death penalty if convicted.

Despite the gravity of the charges, Mangione has drawn an unusual and disturbing fringe following from some online and in‑person supporters. A small but vocal group of sympathizers some wearing costumes inspired by the video game character Luigi have shown up outside the courthouse, using Thompson’s murder to push extreme anti‑health‑care rhetoric and even calling for violence against other executives.

Mangione’s next federal court date is Friday, as the judge weighs whether the death penalty will remain on the table. His trial is scheduled to begin September 8.

Legal issues in the underlying murder case:

Separately, Mangione’s defense attorneys are attempting to suppress evidence allegedly obtained during Mangione’s arrest in Altoona, Pennsylvania. Police reportedly found a loaded gun, extra ammunition, and a notebook outlining Mangione’s plan to “whack” a healthcare executive evidence the defense is now challenging as the result of an illegal search.

What makes this latest development so unusual?

• The bizarre choice of weapons a pizza cutter and barbecue fork highlights how unfounded and dangerous the impersonation was.

• Pretending to be a federal agent in a federal facility is a serious federal offense, distinct from state impersonation charges.

• Any attempt to interfere with a high‑profile defendant’s detention could draw further federal scrutiny and additional charges.

Officials did not immediately link Anderson’s motives to specific Mangione supporters, but the timing and target raised eyebrows among law enforcement observers.

Impersonating a federal agent is a federal crime that can carry significant prison time, especially when tied to efforts to free a detainee. If convicted, Anderson could face years in federal custody himself.

This bizarre episode underscores the volatility surrounding high‑profile criminal cases and the dangers of fringe supporters taking extreme actions. When public passion over a case crosses into illegal interference with law enforcement, the consequences are predictable and serious even if the tools involved look more like kitchen utensils than firearms.

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