On December 8 a new felony warrant was issued for Energy Department deputy assistant secretary of nuclear waste disposal, Sam Brinton, 35.  Police allege Las Vegas Airport Surveillance video captured Brinton stealing luggage at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas. 

Brinton was hired by the Biden administration in February. And identifies as genderfluid and uses them/they pronouns.

They will be charged for grand larceny with a value between $1,200 and $5,000.

This is the second time that they have been accused of stealing luggage at an airport. In November Brinton was charged with felony theft. The incident involved a $2,325 Vera Bradley suitcase at Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP) Airport in September.

A traveler from Dulles International Airport to Reid airport on July 6 reported to United Airlines that her checked luggage was missing. Four days later she filed a police report. 

The report described Away brand luggage that was a hard-shell gray, “Bigger Carry-on” which retails for $320.

The woman told police her stolen property including jewelry, makeup, contact lenses, luggage, and clothing, had a total value of more than $3,670.

Both incidents have Airport Surveillance video 

When a Las Vegas Metropolitan officer reviewed surveillance video he became suspicious. According to the warrant he “observed several nonverbal cues, or body language anomalies, from the suspect, which caught his 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. Pulling it back off the carousel and demonstrating the same behavior by looking around before walking away with it quickly,” the warrant claims.

Police saw images of the suspect but were unable to identify them.

According to the warrant, an officer saw a November article identifying Sam Brinton as a suspect in luggage theft at Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport. And discovered Brinton matched the photos from the Las Vegas luggage theft. 

Instagram page clues

Detectives located Brinton’s Instagram page. On the same day of the theft, they posted a selfie wearing a tee-shirt with a large rainbow atomic nuclear symbol design on the front. And it matched the airport surveillance video.

The post said, “Thank you to @americannuclear for selling such a great shirt for me to wear on my flight today,” the post said. “My professional society continues to grow and learn and I’m proud of them. Goodness how we have changed since my service as a chapter president and then on the National Board of Directors. #NuclearPride.”

They have been on leave from the Energy Dept. since the first charges were filed, an Energy Department spokesman said in November.