Corona Man Stole John Legend's Louis Vuitton Bag From JFK: DA

QUEENS, NY — The man who swiped singer John Legend's Louis Vuitton bag after the singer left it unattended at the airport was arrested and charged with grand larceny among other charges, District Attorney Richard Brown announced Friday.

John Legend landed at JFK Airport Thursday from France and left his Louis Vuitton carry-on unattended in a luggage cart while waiting at the baggage claim. When he went to grab the bag, it was gone, according to the DA.

Port Authority officials identified Corona resident Augustin Hilario, 63, as the man who stole Legend's bag. Surveillance footage showed that the man pushed the bag away from the cart, picked it up when he was at a safe distance, then took off with it, the DA said.

A Port Authority police officer recognized the man from the surveillance footage and contacted Hilario. “I know I should not have taken it. I made a mistake,” Hilario allegedly told him. The man said he would have returned the bag to the lost and found at the airport, according to the DA.

The bag and its contents, which included $25,000 Cartier cuff-links, were valued at $30,000, according to the DA. The man returned the bag to Port Authority officials, who gave it back to Legend.

Hilario was charged with third-degree grand larceny, third-degree criminal possession of stolen property and third-degree attempted grand larceny. He faces up to seven years in prison, if convicted.

“The safety of the traveling public and PA facilities is the PAPD’s top priority." said Port Authority Chief John Bilich. "It is gratifying that swift police action by Port Authority police officers resulted in the return of the victim’s property and the apprehension of the suspect."

Photo by Rich Polk/Getty Images for iHeartMedia