3 charged with theft of crash victim’s credit cards

Less than a week after a Walmart truck driver was killed when the Freightliner he was driving on I-26 near Exit 49, the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office announced the arrests of three people for allegedly going on a spending spree using the victim’s financial cards.

The Freightliner semi truck crashed and overturned around 3:50 a.m. on Wednesday, June 3, killing Michael Nanna, 67, of Inman.

Days after his death, Nanna’s widow reported to authorities that his credit cards were being used at retail locations in Laurens and Greenwood counties.

LCSO investigators traced the purchases to a residence on Serene Drive in Waterloo and to three individuals who are now charged with financial card theft and fraud.

Samuel Allen Roberts and Jordan Kayla Williams were arrested at the residence by deputies on Friday, June 5, and Joshua Neil Putman was arrested Sunday, June 7 following an “interaction with another agency,” said the LCSO.

Putman and Roberts remained in the Laurens County Detention Center Tuesday morning. Putman was being held on bonds totaling $15,000, while Roberts faces additional charges of criminal conspiracy and possession of methamphetamine and is being held on bonds totaling $20,000.

LSCO Chief Deputy Chris Martin said the three suspects were working as contractors on a clean-up crew tasked with cleaning up debris from the single-vehicle wreck. The semi truck traveled off the right side of the road and overturned, spilling its cargo from the trailer along the roadside.

After finding Nanna’s wallet, the suspects allegedly kept it and began using his credit cards at various locations in Greenwood and Laurens counties.

Martin said the suspects allegedly spent more than $1,000 on the stolen cards. The LCSO said in a release that investigators also found items purchased with the cards at the residence.

“I want to send my condolences to the family of the deceased and to thank the Investigators for their quick work of bringing these individuals to justice,” said Laurens County Sheriff Don Reynolds. “Stealing from anyone is bad enough, but this crime shows the heartlessness of these people who were willing to put this already grieving family through something like this.”

Nanna was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash and an autopsy revealed that he was killed by blunt force trauma, said Laurens County Coroner Patti Canupp.

“As Coroner of Laurens County, I have always said that I will be a voice for both the deceased and their families,” Canupp said. “What happened to this family and their loved one who tragically passed away is both shameful and deeply disrespectful. During a time when this family was grieving the loss of their loved one, these individuals chose to take advantage of the situation by stealing the victim’s credit cards and used them for their own personal benefit.

“My thoughts remain with the family as they continue to navigate this difficult time, and I will continue to stand up for victims and their loved ones.”