Chilean Migrant Sentenced to Three Years in Prison for Stealing Kristi Noem's Purse in Washington D.C.

Chilean Migrant Sentenced to Three Years in Prison for Stealing Kristi Noem's Purse in Washington D.C.

A Chilean national has been handed a three-year prison sentence following his conviction in connection with a series of theft crimes throughout Washington, D.C., including the high-profile case involving former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's stolen purse. Upon completion of his sentence, Mario Bustamante Leiva will face mandatory deportation.

Mario Bustamante Leiva, 50, received his sentencing on Wednesday after entering guilty pleas in November to three counts of wire fraud and a single count of first-degree theft. Prosecutors revealed that the defendant engaged in a coordinated campaign targeting female diners at restaurants across the Washington metropolitan area during a three-day period in April 2025.

Details of the Theft Operation

According to the Justice Department, Bustamante Leiva employed a systematic approach to his crimes. He would observe potential victims, then steal their purses containing wallets, credit cards, and personal identification documents, subsequently using the stolen payment cards for fraudulent transactions within minutes of each theft.

The most notable incident occurred on April 20, 2025, when Bustamante Leiva stole Noem's designer Gucci purse while she dined at Capital Burger with her family. The purse contained approximately $3,000 in cash along with multiple credit cards. The defendant was unaware of his victim's identity at the time of the crime.

According to a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson interviewed by the New York Times, Noem felt the theft occurring but initially mistook it for her grandchildren playing. "Her bag was under her feet and the perpetrator hooked the bag with his foot and dragged it across the floor and put a coat over it and took it," the spokesperson explained. Noem had planned to spend the day treating her children and grandchildren to dinner, entertainment, and Easter gifts.

Evidence and Apprehension

Security camera footage subsequently captured Bustamante Leiva at another restaurant in possession of Noem's purse, wallet, and at least one of her credit cards. The defendant used one of these cards to make an unauthorized purchase. He was arrested at a motel six days following the theft.

The investigation connected Bustamante Leiva to two additional purse thefts. In one of these cases, he worked in collaboration with co-defendant Cristian Montecino-Sanzana, who received a 13-month prison sentence in March 2025, along with three years of supervised release, and will also face deportation.

Defense Arguments and Background

Bustamante Leiva's legal representation argued in sentencing filings that the defendant's criminal conduct stemmed from alcohol use and addiction. The filing noted that immediately following his arrest, Bustamante Leiva experienced serious and potentially life-threatening alcohol withdrawal symptoms, but has since achieved sobriety.

His attorney contended that the circumstances of the case reflected "a man who was fighting an addiction" rather than someone engaged in deliberate fraud schemes designed for personal financial gain.

Immigration and Criminal History

Bustamante Leiva entered the United States in August 2021 under a visa waiver program that expired in November 2021, after which he remained in the country illegally. Federal authorities also noted that he carries active arrest warrants in both Utah and New York from 2021, related to charges involving retail theft, credit card theft, and stolen property.