Large donations to a GiveSendGo fundraiser created to help Luigi Mangione with his legal fees are slowing down as the contributions total over $228,000.
"Luigi is aware of the fund and very much appreciates the outpouring of support. My client plans on utilizing it to fight all three of the unprecedented cases against him," Karen Friedman Agnifilo, an attorney for Mangione, told Newsweek in a statement on Tuesday.
Newsweek also contacted the organizers of the GiveSendGo by email for comment.
Why It Matters
Mangione is facing a slew of state and federal charges, including murder, for allegedly shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York City on December 4.
The 26-year-old could face the death penalty if convicted on federal of using a firearm to commit murder and interstate stalking resulting in death. He has not been seen by the public since his December 23 court appearance.
What To Know
The average recent donation to the fundraiser has been between $5 and $25. Large donations of $100 or more are hard to find in recent weeks despite previous givers who helped contribute $228,000 towards its goal of $500,000.
The biggest contributions in the past 10 days have been two $100 donations on February 5.
The December 4 Legal Committee, a team of 15 volunteers from around the country, organized the fundraiser shortly after Thompson was shot. In their latest GiveSendGo update on January 26, organizers wrote, "The donations to this campaign have been small, but they have added up to something massive."
"To all those who wrote that they cannot spare much, but it was important to show support, thank you. Together, we are more powerful," they added.
Luigi Mangione Fundraiser Refunds
After further review of the contributions, GiveSendGo had to refund $7,000 in fraudulent donations to Mangione's fundraiser last month.
The largest refund was a $2,500 donation given on December 24. The smallest refunds were multiple $5 donations given on various days.
"Fraudulent donations often originate from activities like 'card testing,' where stolen card information is used to make small transactions to verify its validity before being used elsewhere for larger unauthorized purchases," a GiveSendGo spokesperson told Newsweek in an email on January 16.
"While these donations may initially appear legitimate, passing our first review, they are often flagged during subsequent reviews," the spokesperson added.
What People Are Saying
GiveSendGo organizers in the January 26 update: "In recent weeks, we have seen even more news stories try to demonize Luigi and his supporters. But strong support for Luigi continues. Legal battles are long, and it's critical that we keep up energy and solidarity as Luigi sits waiting his day in court. Whatever the media says, it's clear to all of us: it is the healthcare system that is on trial."
Mangione's lawyer Karen Friedman Agnifilo, previously said in court: "I am very concerned about my client's right to a fair trial in this case. He is being prejudiced by some statements that are being made by government officials."
Former federal prosecutor in California Neama Rahmani said in reference to the support for Mangione from a surprising number of people: "I've never seen an alleged murderer receive so much sympathy. To many people, Mangione is a hero of sorts."
What Happens Next
Mangione remains jailed in Brooklyn. His next federal court date is set for February 17 and he is due back in New York state court on February 21.
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Update 2/4/25 12:57 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with comment from Karen Friedman Agnifilo, an attorney for Mangione.
About the writer
Erin Keller is a reporter based in Ohio. Her focus is live and trending news, as well as pop culture. ... Read more