Washington, D.C. – A man who stole a purse belonging to then-Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem while she was dining in a restaurant under Secret Service protection has been sentenced to three years in prison. The sentence comes as part of a broader pattern of thefts that took place in the nation’s capital. This incident occurred in April 2025.
The defendant, Mario Bustamante Leiva, did not recognize Noem when he snatched her Gucci handbag, which was resting on the floor of the restaurant where she was having dinner with her family. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Noem’s purse contained credit cards and approximately $3,000 in cash. Law enforcement later recovered the stolen purse from Leiva's motel room.
Bustamante Leiva, a 50-year-old native of Chile, now faces the possibility of deportation following the sentence handed down by U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden. In a statement, Jeanine Pirro, U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, emphasized the severity of Leiva's actions, stating, “Bustamante Leiva came to Washington illegally to prey on citizens of the district. His pattern of theft ends here.”
Noem, who is only identified by her initials in court documents, made a statement last year characterizing Bustamante Leiva as a “career criminal” who has been living in the country illegally for several years. His criminal activities came to light when he pleaded guilty in November to three counts of wire fraud and one count of first-degree theft. Leiva has also been convicted of robbing two other individuals and making fraudulent charges on their credit cards.
In conjunction with Bustamante Leiva, a second suspect, Cristian Montecino-Sananza, was also charged. Montecino-Sananza received a 13-month sentence in March for his involvement in one of the other thefts attributed to the pair. Investigators were able to link Bustamante Leiva to the crimes when he used a stolen gift card to make a purchase, leading to his identification as a suspect in the various thefts reported in Washington, D.C.
The sequence of events highlights ongoing concerns regarding crime in urban areas, as well as the challenges of addressing criminal behavior by individuals who are not in the country legally. Bustamante Leiva's case not only underscores the issue of theft but also raises questions about immigration and law enforcement practices in the capital.
As the investigation continues, the impact of such crimes on victims and the community is significant, prompting ongoing discussions about safety and security in public spaces. Law enforcement agencies remain vigilant in their efforts to deter crime and bring perpetrators to justice.
