No Charges for Samson Nacua After Mistaken Vehicle Incident; Focus Returns to Football for Nacua Family
Authorities in Los Angeles County have decided not to pursue vehicle theft charges against UFL wide receiver Samson Nacua, following a December arrest that raised eyebrows but now appears to have been a case of mistaken identity-of the automotive kind.
Nacua, 27, and another man, Trey Rose, were taken into custody in West Hollywood after allegedly driving off in an SUV belonging to Los Angeles Lakers rookie Adou Thiero. But as investigators dug into the details, the situation turned out to be far less criminal and far more confused. According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Nacua believed the vehicle belonged to his younger brother-Los Angeles Rams star wideout Puka Nacua.
Turns out, Thiero’s SUV is the same make and model as Puka’s. And while the specifics of how the wrong car was accessed haven’t been made public, the Sheriff’s Department acknowledged the similarities between the two vehicles and confirmed that Thiero didn’t want to press charges. That cooperation, combined with the findings of the investigation, led law enforcement to recommend that the District Attorney’s Office drop the case altogether.
It’s a bizarre twist in what’s otherwise been a football-focused few weeks for the Nacua family.
Samson Nacua, who’s been grinding to keep his pro career alive, was just selected by the Birmingham Stallions during the UFL draft earlier this week. He previously played for the now-defunct Michigan Panthers, where he logged nine catches for 121 yards and two touchdowns last season. Before that, he spent time in NFL training camps with the Colts and Saints, trying to earn a roster spot the hard way.
His journey hasn’t come without bumps. Back in April, the UFL suspended Nacua for one game after a postgame altercation with a fan following a road loss to the St.
Louis Battlehawks. Video showed him shouting and appearing to slap a fan before jogging away.
The league handed down a suspension and announced that Nacua would participate in a community service program as part of his discipline.
The Nacua football legacy, though, runs deep. Samson played his college ball at both Utah and BYU, the same schools where his younger brother Puka made a name for himself.
Their older brother, Kai Nacua, also played at BYU and spent five seasons bouncing around NFL rosters-including stints with the Browns, 49ers, and Jets-before suiting up for the UFL’s Michigan Panthers last season. Kai was selected by the DC Defenders in this week’s UFL draft but has since decided to retire.
Meanwhile, Puka Nacua is in the midst of a breakout season that has him firmly in the conversation for Offensive Player of the Year. The Rams rookie sensation finished the regular season with 129 receptions for 1,715 yards and 10 touchdowns-numbers that would be eye-popping for a seasoned vet, let alone a first-year player. He added another 111 yards and a touchdown in the Rams’ wild-card win over the Panthers last week.
Now, Puka’s preparing for a high-stakes showdown in the NFC Divisional Round as the Rams head to Soldier Field to face the Chicago Bears. And while his older brother’s off-field situation may have briefly made headlines, the focus for the Nacua family is back where it belongs-on the field.
With Samson getting another shot in the UFL and Puka continuing his meteoric rise in the NFL, the Nacua brothers are proving that football isn’t just a family affair-it’s a full-on legacy in motion.