Chilean National Gets 3 Years for Purse Thefts in DC, Including One Involving Kristi Noem

Mario Bustamante Leiva, 50, pleaded guilty to three counts of wire fraud and one count of first-degree theft after targeting women in multiple incidents last year. He will be subject to deportation to Chile at the end of his prison sentence, according to the DOJ.

The theft occurred in April 2025 at Capital Burger restaurant, where Noem was dining with her family for Easter. Security cameras captured the theft, and later showed Bustamante Leiva at another restaurant in possession of Noem's purse, wallet, and at least one credit card, which he used for an unauthorized purchase, the DOJ said.

He was arrested in late April 2025, less than a week after the incident. He was charged with stealing purses in three separate incidents that month. "Bustamante Leiva came to Washington illegally to prey on citizens of the District," U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro said in a statement on Wednesday.

"He methodically targeted women at restaurants, stealing their purses, and monetizing the stolen cards within minutes," Pirro said. "His pattern of theft ends here.

A prosecutor in Pirro's office noted in a sentencing memo that Bustamante Leiva's criminal conduct dated to at least the mid-1990s, involving illegal entry into countries and theft from victims. The judge sentenced him to 36 months, exceeding the 30 months requested by prosecutors.

Noem was ousted from her post as Secretary of Homeland Security last month, in a shake-up of President Donald Trump's Cabinet. The theft happened nearly a year before her dismissal. Bustamante Leiva's lawyer argued for a 15-month sentence, citing the defendant's difficult life marked by abuse and addiction, including alcohol withdrawal after his arrest.

Security cameras provided key evidence, showing the theft and subsequent possession of stolen items. The DOJ confirmed Bustamante Leiva's illegal status and deportation plans. Prosecutors highlighted the egregious nature of the crimes, which involved quick monetization of stolen credit cards.

Her Gucci bag contained credit cards and roughly $3,000 in cash when it was swiped, according to prosecutors.