In what law enforcement officials are calling one of the most bizarre security breaches of 2026, a Minnesota man attempted to bust high-profile murder suspect Luigi Mangione out of federal prison armed with little more than a barbecue fork and a pizza cutter. Mark Anderson, a 36-year-old from Mankato, was arrested Wednesday night at the notorious Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in Brooklyn after a failed attempt to impersonate an FBI agent. This Luigi Mangione jailbreak attempt has quickly become one of the strangest chapters in the ongoing UnitedHealthcare CEO murder case.
The "FBI Agent" with a Minnesota Driver's License
The incident unfolded around 7:00 p.m. on January 28, when Anderson walked into the intake area of the MDC Brooklyn. According to the federal criminal complaint, he confidently identified himself as an FBI agent and demanded the immediate release of a specific inmate. While the complaint did not explicitly name the prisoner, law enforcement sources confirmed that Anderson was there to free Luigi Mangione, the man awaiting trial for the assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
The ruse unraveled almost immediately. When Bureau of Prisons (BOP) officers requested his federal credentials, Anderson reportedly produced a standard Minnesota driver's license. When that failed to convince the guards, the situation escalated. Anderson allegedly began throwing a stack of incoherent legal documents at the officers, claiming he had a court order "signed by a judge" and asserting that he was armed.
A Culinary Arsenal: Pizza Cutter and BBQ Fork
Federal officers acted swiftly, detaining Anderson without incident. Upon searching his backpack, they discovered an arsenal that sounded more like a kitchen drawer than a jailbreak kit. The "weapons" Anderson claimed to possess turned out to be a large barbecue fork and a circular steel blade resembling a pizza cutter. This detail has turned the case into a viral sensation, with social media users dubbing it the "pizza cutter weapons crime of the century."
Investigations revealed a somewhat logical, albeit tragic, explanation for the unusual weaponry. Anderson had reportedly traveled to New York City for a job opportunity that fell through. Stranded and in need of income, he had recently taken a job at a local pizzeria, likely explaining the presence of the dough-slicing tool in his bag. The MDC Brooklyn bizarre arrest highlights the unpredictable nature of the threats facing federal facilities holding high-value detainees.
Who is Mark Anderson?
Mark Anderson, the Minnesota FBI impersonator, is now facing federal charges for impersonating an officer of the United States. Background checks revealed that Anderson had traveled from Mankato, Minnesota, approximately 67 miles southwest of Minneapolis. His behavior at the jail suggests a disconnect from reality; among the papers he threw at officers were handwritten complaints against "the Pentagon" and demands for $125,000 in damages for mental distress.
A History of Minor Offenses
Prior to this high-stakes blunder, Anderson's criminal history was relatively minor, including arrests for petit larceny and menacing in the Bronx. There is no evidence suggesting he had any actual contact with Mangione or that the inmate was aware of the rescue attempt. Anderson appeared in federal court on Thursday to face charges, where the judge ordered a psychiatric evaluation.
Context: The UnitedHealthcare CEO Murder Case
The target of this ill-fated rescue, Luigi Mangione, remains one of the most scrutinized inmates in the country. Mangione is currently being held without bail as he awaits trial for the December 2024 shooting of Brian Thompson in Manhattan. The case has drawn intense public interest, making any security incident at MDC Brooklyn a matter of national concern.
As UnitedHealthcare CEO murder case updates continue to dominate the news cycle, this strange interlude serves as a reminder of the chaotic atmosphere often surrounding high-profile criminal proceedings. MDC Brooklyn itself has been under fire for harsh conditions and security lapses, though in this instance, guards were able to neutralize the threat—armed with only common sense—in minutes.
One of the Weirdest Crimes of the Year
As 2026 unfolds, the "Pizza Cutter Jailbreak" is already a strong contender for the weirdest crimes of the year. While the intent to free a murder suspect is serious, the execution—involving a BBQ fork and a driver's license—reads like a dark comedy. For now, Luigi Mangione remains securely behind bars, and Mark Anderson has traded his job at the pizzeria for a cell of his own, leaving the public to wonder what exactly he thought he could accomplish with a kitchen utensil against armed federal guards.
