Salt Lake County Resident Sentenced in a Series of Baggage Thefts at Salt Lake City International Airport
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah / Monday, September 28, 2026 –The final defendant in a series of baggage thefts from Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) was sentenced today to 13 months’ imprisonment, and two years of supervised release for her role in the 2022 thefts.
The sentence, imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Howard C. Nielson Jr., comes after Leticia Marie Torres, 45, of Salt Lake County pleaded guilty on November 19, 2025, to aiding and abetting in the theft of baggage from interstate shipment, and illegal transactions with an access device. Her codefendant, Brianna Marie Taylor, was sentenced on September 17, 2025, to 13 months’ imprisonment. A third defendant, Charles Masters, charged in a separate indictment related to another string of baggage thefts at the Salt Lake City Airport, was sentenced on August 28, 2024, to two months home detention and three years’ probation. As part of their sentence, Masters and Taylor were ordered to pay restitution for their respective cases. The court ordered Torres to pay $36,599.54 jointly and severally with others involved in the offense.
According to court documents and statements made at Torres’s change of plea and sentencing hearings, in January 2022, Torres and Taylor stole multiple pieces of baggage over the course of several months from multiple victims with the intent to keep them for their personal use. As part of their scheme to defraud, Torres and Taylor used multiple stolen credit cards belonging to one of the victims and received payment and other items of value during a one-year period, costing the victims $36,599.54 in losses. Even when Torres was not present at the airport, stolen luggage was brought to her home, as revealed by a search warrant executed on her residence. See prior press release: Utah Residents Facing Federal Charges for Alleged Baggage Thefts at Airport.
United States Attorney Melissa Holyoak of the District of Utah made the announcement.
The case was investigated jointly by an FBI Task Force Officer with the Salt Lake City Police Department and the Salt Lake City Police Department Airport Division.
Assistant United States Attorney Jawayria Z. Auchter of The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah prosecuted the case.
As part of ongoing efforts to decrease baggage thefts at airports, Salt Lake City Police Department and the Salt Lake City International Airport say the best way to prevent theft is to ensure your bag is never left unattended. Recognizing that flying with carry-on bags is not always feasible, SLCPD recommends the following tips as travelers enter the holiday and ski season in the beehive state:
- Place irreplaceable or high value items in your carry-on baggage (Note: Passengers must know which items are required to be checked or prohibited from being checked or brought onto an aircraft.)
- Reconsider purchasing luxury-branded luggage as this could be an allure to potential thieves.
- Make your checked luggage distinctive using stickers, tape, ribbon or consider purchasing a brightly colored suitcase.
- Keep a record of what you pack and take a photo of your belongings and your luggage. Photos can be helpful during a police investigation and for insurance purposes.
- After landing, avoid unnecessary delays and head to the baggage pick-up area immediately so your bag is not left unattended when on the baggage carousel.
- Ensure your bag is clearly labeled with your contact information. For privacy reasons, an address is not necessary, but a name and phone number should be included.
- If you believe someone has stolen your luggage, be sure to file a police report and file reports with the airline and TSA.
- Report anything suspicious to an airport/airline official or airport police.
The Salt Lake City Police Department’s Airport Division continues to conduct proactive operations to curb baggage theft from Salt Lake City International Airport. Officers and detectives work closely with airline and airport staff to ensure the security of passenger luggage.
Contact
Felicia Martinez
Public Affairs Specialist
Felicia.martinez@usdoj.gov
Source: U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Utah
