Here's why Baggage Bandit Samuel Brinton will spend NO time in jail, but has to pay $3,670 to victim
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA: Samuel Brinton, a non-binary person, previously employed by the Energy Department, was caught on camera stealing luggage and has been ordered to pay $3,670 in restitution to the victim. Brinton, aged 35 and preferring they/them pronouns, pled 'no contest' to the theft charge and received a suspended sentence of 180 days in jail. A suspended sentence implies that the former Energy Department worker will not have to serve a jail or prison sentence right away and could instead be put on probation.
The sentencing occurred in Las Vegas, Nevada, after eight months since Brinton took the passenger's bags from the Harry Reid International Airport. Initially, Brinton was charged with a felony theft charge for taking items worth $3,670, but it was later reduced to a misdemeanor theft charge for less than $1,200 of stolen items, as per Daily Mail. In addition to the sentence mentioned earlier, Brinton, who had been responsible for nuclear fuel and radioactive waste, was instructed by a judge to avoid engaging in any further criminal activity, as per the court documents in Las Vegas.
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Brinton allegedly removed tag from a woman's luggage
The incident started when a woman, who had traveled from Dulles International Airport in Washington, DC, to Harry Reid Airport on July 6, 2022, reported that she was unable to locate one of her checked bags. She subsequently filed a police report. The suitcase in question was valued at $320 and was from the 'Away' brand, according to authorities. It was later revealed that the stolen bag contained items worth over $3,000, such as jewelry, makeup, contact lenses, and clothing.
After officials started investigating the missing luggage, they reviewed the security footage, which led them to identify Brinton as a suspect, based on their unusual behavior. The warrant states that officers observed "several nonverbal cues or body language anomalies" from the suspect that caught their attention. "Specifically, Brinton pulled the victim's luggage from the carousel and examined the tag. Then placed it back on the carousel, looking in all directions for anyone who might be watching or might approach," the warrant stated. "Pulling it back off the carousel and demonstrating the same behavior by looking around before walking away with it quickly," the document said.
AA confirmed no checked luggage by Brinton
Based on the complaint filed in that incident, Brinton was accused of taking a tag off a woman's luggage and leaving with it. American Airlines later verified that Brinton had not checked any luggage on their flight from Washington DC to Minneapolis-St Paul International Airport. When the victim was shown footage of Brinton with the suitcase, she confirmed that it belonged to her.
The case remained unsolved for several months until one officer came across a news article in November that linked Brinton to another luggage theft incident. It was reported that Brinton had been suspected of stealing a bag at Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport on September 16, and their photos matched those of the suspect in the Las Vegas incident. Detectives conducted further investigations and discovered photos on Brinton's Instagram account, which showed them wearing the same t-shirt as the one seen in a photo taken on July 6.
The case against Brinton in Minneapolis is still ongoing at present. If they are convicted in that case, the former Energy Department official could be sentenced to up to five years in prison and/or be fined up to $10,000.