Society
The $60,000 reward money for info that led to the capture of Mangione might not be paid: This is why
Rewards were put out to solicit tips for the capture the killer of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson but collecting the money isn’t a simple process.
Both the NYPD and the FBI put out rewards for a combined total of $60,000 to solicit tips from the public to capture the killer of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Whether it was the money or just being good citizen who had been paying attention to the news, a customer at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania spotted a man that fit the suspect’s description eating at the restaurant.
The customer informed an employee who called the police explained Pennsylvania State Police Lt. Col. George Bivens at a new conference. Police arrested and charged 26-year-old Luigi Mangione, who reportedly had several false IDs, a written manifesto criticizing healthcare companies and a “ghost gun” along with a silencer.
Why the $60,000 reward money for info that led to the capture of Mangione might not be paid
Neither the customer nor the employee, who called 911, at the McDonald’s have been identified by authorities who thanked them for providing the tip that led to the capture of Mangione ending the nearly week-long manhunt. However, whether or not they will receive the reward money is up in the air.
On the one hand, technically both individuals could be entitled to the rewards, up to $10,000 from the NYPD and up to $50,000 from the FBI, of which the total or a portion of that amount would be shared between them. On the other, there are conditions that must be met in order for the money to be paid out.
Claiming rewards from the NYPD
In the case of the NYPD, the process is slightly simpler as the tip only needs to lead “to an arrest and indictment.” Those who provide the tip are kept anonymous according to the NYPD Crime Stoppers website.
Claiming rewards from the FBI
However, in the case of the FBI reward it is “a deliberative process,” where the person must first be nominated by “a US investigating agency (such as the Department of Defense or the FBI)” states the federal law enforcement agency’s rewards frequently asked questions page. A person cannot nominate themselves.
After the nomination is made, the merits of it are deliberated by a committee which makes a non-binding recommendation to the Secretary of State who authorizes the reward. The Secretary can change the amount of the reward determined by the committee. When there is federal criminal jurisdiction in the case, the Attorney General must concur with the Secretary before payment is made.
Additionally, the FBI reward will only be given in the event of the “information leading to the arrest and conviction of the individual” as the FBI reward posting stated. So that means there are still months ahead while prosecutors build their case against Mangione and then put him in the docket to be tried. Once he is convicted then the deliberative process can begin.
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