Former non-binary Department of Energy official who was caught stealing luggage on video has been ordered to pay victim $3,670 and given a suspended 180-day jail sentence after pleading “without dispute” for theft.
Samuel Brinton, 35, who uses the pronouns they/them was sentenced Wednesday in Las Vegas, Nevada, eight months after grabbing a passenger’s luggage inside Harry Reid International Airport.
Brinton was facing misdemeanor theft charges, which amount to less than $1,200 in stolen items. They had originally faced a felony theft charge since police said the amount stolen was $3,670.
Brinton – who was responsible for the nuclear fuel and radioactive waste – was also told by a judge to stay out of trouble, according to Las Vegas court records.
A suspended sentence means that the former Department of Energy employee will not immediately be required to serve jail or jail time and may be required to complete probation.
Former non-binary Energy Department official who was caught stealing luggage on video has been ordered to pay victim $3,670 and given a suspended 180-day jail sentence after pleading “no dispute” for theft
Samuel Brinton, 34, who uses the pronouns they/them was sentenced Wednesday in Las Vegas, Nevada, eight months after grabbing a passenger’s luggage inside Harry Reid International Airport.
The situation began when a woman who was traveling from Dulles International Airport in Washington, D.C. to Harry Reid Airport on July 6 said she couldn’t find any luggage.
The woman told authorities that a part that had been checked with United Airlines was missing and she later filed a police report.
According to officials, the suitcase was worth $320 and belonged to the “Away” brand.
Inside the luggage was over $3,000 of stolen property, including jewelry, makeup, contact lenses and clothing, according to documents.
When officials began to investigate and looked at the security footage, they noticed that Brinton – then identified as “the suspect” was acting strangely.
Officers “observed several nonverbal cues, or body language abnormalities, of the suspect that caught his attention,” according to the warrant.
“Specifically, Brinton removed the victim’s luggage from the carousel and examined the tag. Then placed back on the carousel, looking in all directions for anyone who might be watching or approaching, the warrant continues.
“Remove it from the carousel and demonstrate the same behavior by looking around before quickly driving away with it,” the document says.
Brinton – who was responsible for nuclear fuel and radioactive waste – was also told by a judge to stay out of trouble, court records show. Pictured: Brinton in court in February
When officials began to investigate and looked at the security footage, they noticed that Brinton – then identified as ‘the suspect’ was acting strangely
“Specifically, Brinton removed the victim’s luggage from the carousel and examined the tag. Then placed back on the carousel, looking in all directions for anyone who might be watching or approaching, the warrant continues
The case remained unsolved for months until an officer saw a news article in November that identified Brinton as a suspect in another baggage theft.
The case remained unsolved for months until an officer saw a news article in November that identified Brinton as a suspect in another baggage theft.
Brinton had been involved in a robbery inside Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport on Sept. 16 and their photos matched the suspect in the Las Vegas incident.
Detectives continued to investigate and found photos posted to Brinton’s Instagram of them wearing the same t-shirt in a photo posted on July 6.
The case against Brinton in Minneapolis is ongoing right now.
If convicted in the case, the former Department of Energy officials could face up to five years in prison and/or a $10,000 fine.
According to the complaint about that incident, Brinton removed a tag from a woman’s luggage and walked out. The items inside were appraised at $2,325.
American Airlines later confirmed that Brinton did not check baggage on his flight from Washington D.C.
The victim saw footage of Brinton with the suitcase, she confirmed it was her luggage.
Brinton had been involved in a robbery inside Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport on September 16 and their photos matched the suspect in the Las Vegas incident
If convicted in the case, the former Department of Energy officials could face up to five years in prison and/or a $10,000 fine.
In addition to charges in Las Vegas and Minneapolis, Brinton is also being investigated after a fashion designer saw photos of them. wearing what appeared to be her unique clothes that she lost in a bag in 2018.
Asya Khamsin said her bag went missing at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and she believed Brinton was the culprit.
Khamsin spotted the clothing amid ongoing Brinton coverage and reported the theft to Houston police in December.
Khamsin claimed Brinton had been seen wearing her tailored outfits on several occasions since her luggage went missing five years ago.
The Houston-based fashion guru shared side-by-side photos of herself wearing one of her outfits alongside a photo of Brinton in what she believed to be the same.
Since then, numerous photos have surfaced showing Brinton wearing what appear to be several of Khamsin’s unique outfits.
The models, while similar, are based on Brinton differently and there is no evidence that the elements are the same – nor is it clear if they changed them.
Brinton, before being fired, served as deputy undersecretary in the office of spent fuel and waste disposal, according to the Office of Nuclear Energy website.
Shortly after a warrant was issued for their arrest in Las Vegas, the department announced that they were no longer an employee.
They were first hired into the department last summer.
Brinton attended the Trevor Project TrevorLIVE NYC on June 11, 2018 in an outfit that Khamsin said resembled her outfits that went missing with her luggage in March 2018
Khamsin shared photos on his social media of his designs compared to what Brinton was seen wearing after his luggage with the clothes was stolen from an airport in Washington, D.C.
Sam Brinton (pictured left at Starbucks in West Hollywood) appeared to be wearing Brinton’s unique designs
