Chilean National Sentenced to Three Years for Stealing Former DHS Secretary Noem's Purse

A federal court has handed down a three-year prison sentence to a Chilean national convicted of stealing a handbag from then-Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, with deportation to follow upon his release.

Mario Bustamante Leiva, 50, was sentenced on Wednesday by a U.S. district court for the April 2025 theft of Noem's purse while she dined at a Washington, DC restaurant. The Trump administration simultaneously announced that Bustamante Leiva will face deportation after completing his prison term.

Details of the Crime

According to U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, Bustamante Leiva entered the country illegally and engaged in a systematic pattern of theft targeting women at restaurants throughout the District. "He methodically targeted women at restaurants, stealing their purses, and monetizing the stolen cards within minutes," Pirro stated, adding that "his pattern of theft ends here."

Bustamante Leiva was one of two suspects captured on surveillance cameras conducting purses thefts in Washington, DC, in April 2025. His accomplice, Cristian Montecino-Sanzana, was sentenced to 13 months in prison and three years of supervised release, and also faces deportation.

The two men committed their first documented theft together on April 12. Bustamante Leiva was subsequently accused of a second theft on April 17 at the Westin Hotel in Washington, DC. In both incidents, stolen credit cards were used at a grocery store to purchase gift cards.

The Noem Incident

The incident involving Noem occurred on April 20 while the Homeland Security secretary dined with her family at Capital Burger. According to the U.S. Justice Department, surveillance footage showed Bustamante Leiva repeatedly gazing toward Noem's purse before seizing it. The stolen bag contained several credit cards and approximately $3,000 in cash.

Bustamante Leiva faced charges including three counts of wire fraud and one count of first-degree theft.

Security Questions and Political Implications

The theft raised questions about the effectiveness of Noem's Secret Service protection, as security agents were present during the incident. The Trump administration has since cited the case as evidence supporting its deportation initiatives and its military-led crime reduction efforts in the nation's capital.

Noem was dismissed as Homeland Security secretary on March 5, following increased scrutiny over government expenditures and her controversial immigration enforcement operations. She has since been reassigned to the Shield of the Americas, a Trump administration program focused on discouraging Chinese influence in Latin America and promoting aggressive crime-fighting measures.