Crime & Safety
PA Mangione Tipster Could Have Trouble Collecting $60K Reward
Significant challenges exist for the tipster whose information led to Luigi Mangione's arrest to collect a $60,000 reward.
ALTOONA, PA — The McDonald's employee whose tip led to Monday's arrest of Luigi Mangione appears to have an uphill battle ahead in collecting the $60,000 reward, two law enforcement agencies pledged.
The combined reward - $50,000 from the FBI and $10,000 from the New York Police Department - was offered as authorities were attempting to track down the suspect in last week's slaying of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
Mangione, 26, was taken into custody at the McDonald's and charged with weapons and other charges in Blair County. Hours later, second-degree murder and other charges were filed against him in New York.
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Mangione's attorney said he will plead not guilty to the Blair County charges and likely will plead not guilty to the New York charges as well. Mangione remains in the State Correctional Institution Huntingdon while he fights extradition to New York.
That means there will be no immediate FBI check being written to the McDonald's employee. FBI regulations stipulate that tips must lead to an arrest and conviction, so any payout would be delayed until after Mangione is extradited, tried and convicted.
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According to the Rewards for Justice page on the FBI's website, the FBI or another investigative agency must first nominate a person for a reward. Individuals claiming to have provided information are not permitted to nominate themselves.
An interagency committee then reviews the nomination to determine if the information merits a reward. If that test is passed, the Secretary of State makes the final decision on the reward.
As for the New York Police Department's $10,000, the rewards program is administered through Crime Stoppers, where tipsters receive a unique reference number when they provide information. That number is essential to file a claim with the New York City Police Foundation and the Crime Stoppers board of directors, who ultimately decide whether to approve the reward.
The McDonald's tipster reportedly called 911 and not the Crime Stoppers number and thus might be unable to file a claim for the reward.
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