Executive Summary
- Charles Jamie Manigo pleaded guilty to armed robbery and weapon possession charges.
- The violent incident stemmed from a dispute over a $40 loan to a former coworker.
- Manigo chased the victim by car and fired a gun into the air before taking $200.
- Circuit Court Judge Robert Bonds sentenced Manigo to 10 years in prison.
BEAUFORT COUNTY, S.C. – A 53-year-old Lady’s Island man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to armed robbery and weapon charges stemming from a violent confrontation over a minor financial debt, according to the 14th Circuit Solicitor’s Office.
Charles Jamie Manigo entered a guilty plea to charges of armed robbery and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime on Monday, just as his trial was scheduled to begin. Circuit Court Judge Robert Bonds immediately sentenced Manigo to a decade of incarceration following the plea agreement.
Prosecutors detailed that the incident, which took place on January 3, 2019, originated from a $40 loan Manigo had provided to a former coworker at a local car dealership. According to court records, when the debt remained unpaid after several months, Manigo confronted the victim, who was working as a tow-truck driver, at a stoplight in the city of Beaufort.
The Solicitor’s Office stated that the victim attempted to flee the scene after observing a firearm in Manigo’s lap. A vehicular pursuit ensued for several miles until the victim pulled over on Tom Fripp Road on St. Helena Island. Investigators reported that Manigo approached the vehicle with a handgun, fired a shot into the air to compel compliance, and forcibly took $200 from the victim. The victim’s nephew was present during the altercation and recorded part of the encounter.
“This was a dangerous and brazen crime that put multiple people at risk,” said J.B. Bryant of the 14th Circuit Solicitor’s Office, who prosecuted the case. “The defendant chose to escalate a minor dispute into an armed robbery, and the 10-year sentence reflects the seriousness of that conduct and the threat it posed to the community.”
Judicial Accountability
The sentencing of Charles Jamie Manigo serves as a definitive conclusion to a case highlighting the severe legal repercussions of escalating personal disputes into armed violence. By imposing a substantial prison term, the court has reinforced the precedent that vigilantism and the use of firearms for debt collection constitute grave threats to public safety. This judicial outcome ensures accountability for the aggressive conduct displayed and closes the legal chapter on an event that endangered multiple citizens on public roadways.
