Lawyers for accused killer Luigi Mangione had talks with federal prosecutors about a possible plea deal in advance of a scheduled court hearing on Monday, sources familiar with the matter said.An agreement appeared close earlier this week but has since fallen aside, the sources said. News of plea talks in the federal case comes after defense attorneys earlier this month had suggested in the state murder case they might seek a psychiatric defense for Mangione. The defense then withdrew their notice that they planned to pursue a defense that Mangione suffers from “extreme emotional disturbance.”Mangione faces both federal and state charges for allegedly shooting United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson. The murder took place on December 4, 2024. Mangione has pleaded not guilty. Legal experts say plea talks are a common occurrence before most trials. NBC legal analyst Danny Cevallos said if any plea deal is reached in the federal case, New York state law may bar a successive state prosecution based on the same conduct.Spokespersons for the U.S. attorney, FBI, and Manhattan DA all declined to comment. Mangione defense attorney Karen Friedman Agnifilo gave the following statement to NBC New York:“This information attributed to ‘anonymous sources’ is part of a troubling, deliberate pattern by prosecutors and law enforcement to prejudice Luigi, manipulate public opinion, and violate his constitutional right to a fair trial and impartial jury. Every defendant in America is presumed innocent until proven guilty, including Luigi, who has to fight the same charges twice.”03:10Mangione’s lawyers and prosecutors for both the state and federal government had been preparing for trials since the 28-year-old’s arrest on December 9, 2024, five days after the executive’s midtown sidewalk slaying. The state and federal trials had been scheduled to begin in September and January, respectively.The killing set off a nationwide conversation about the health insurance industry and focused national attention on Mangione, who was decried by some as a violent extremist and defended by others as an avatar for rage over the insurance industry.Federal prosecutors brought four charges against Mangione, including two terror-related murder charges that were later dismissed by a New York district judge. He still faced weapon and stalking charges heading toward the start of the trial.Mangione originally faced 11 state charges. But in September, Judge Gregory Carro tossed out two of the more severe counts: first-degree murder in furtherance of an act of terrorism and second-degree murder as a crime of terrorism.Mangione, 28, had previously pleaded not guilty to state and federal charges in killing of Thompson. His federal trial, which involved stalking charges, was set to begin on Oct. 13. He could spend his life in prison if convicted in either case.Thompson, 50, was killed as he walked to a Manhattan hotel for UnitedHealth Group’s annual investor conference. Surveillance video showed a masked gunman shooting him from behind. Police say “delay,” “deny” and “depose” were written on the ammunition, mimicking a phrase used to describe how insurers avoid paying claims.Thompson worked at the giant UnitedHealth Group for 20 years and became CEO of its insurance arm in 2021.Mangione, an Ivy League graduate from a wealthy Maryland family, was arrested five days later at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania, about 230 miles west of Manhattan. At the May 18 hearing, Carro ruled that a gun and notebook that prosecutors say link Mangione to the killing can be used as evidence against him.The gun, a 3D-printed pistol, matches the one used to kill Thompson, prosecutors said. The notebook describes wanting to “wack” a health insurance executive and rebelling against “the deadly, greed fueled health insurance cartel.”