Serial thief who stole Kristi Noem’s handbag sentenced to three years in prison

Mario Bustamante Leiva, a 50-year-old Chilean national, has been given a three-year prison term for stealing a handbag from former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem. The theft occurred in April when Noem was dining at a Washington DC restaurant with her family. The Gucci bag, containing $3,000 in cash, was taken from under her seat at Capital Burger, according to CBS, the BBC’s US partner.

Thief’s Guilt Plea and Deportation

Bustamante Leiva admitted guilt to three wire fraud charges and one first-degree theft count in November. His identity was uncovered through a gift card purchased with a stolen credit card. The justice department stated he faces deportation after his sentence. “His pattern of theft ends here,” said Jeanine Pirro, US attorney for the District of Columbia, in a statement. “Bustamante Leiva came to Washington illegally to prey on district citizens.”

Police retrieved the bag from his motel room, revealing it also held her driver’s licence, passport, and DHS access badge, as reported by law enforcement sources. The Secret Service aided in the investigation, which included the theft incident. Noem, who previously served as South Dakota governor, was under Secret Service protection at the time, though the bag disappeared while officers were present.

“He made purchases with his victims’ credit cards within minutes of stealing them,” the justice department noted, highlighting his method of disguising pickpocketing by using a coat to conceal his actions.