A Chilean national has pleaded guilty to several theft-related charges in Washington, D.C., including the high-profile theft of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s purse while she was dining at a restaurant last spring, as reported by Newsmax.
Court filings identify the suspect as Mario Bustamante Leiva, who admitted guilt to federal charges on Friday.
The Washington Post first reported the plea agreement, which covers three counts: wire fraud, aiding and abetting, and first-degree theft.
BREAKING: A law enforcement source in D.C. has confirmed to me the man accused of stealing DHS Sec. Noem’s purse is Mario Bustamante Leiva. U.S. Attorney for D.C. Ed Martin has said the man is in the U.S. illegally.
A Daily Mail article from 2015 says Bustamante Leiva is Chilean… pic.twitter.com/6c1h6nPTsL
— Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) April 27, 2025
According to court documents, the purse stolen from Noem contained approximately $3,000 in cash, her passport, her DHS badge, credit cards, and other personal items.
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Federal prosecutors said sentencing guidelines for the charges range from six months to 3½ years in prison. Fines and restitution may also be imposed. A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled.
The plea agreement states that Bustamante Leiva will be “removable from the United States” once he completes whatever sentence is imposed. The case adds to ongoing concerns about repeat offenders in theft rings operating in the D.C. area.
Following the incident last spring, Noem described the theft as an example of ongoing criminal activity involving individuals who remain in the country unlawfully. She said the suspect was “a career criminal who has been in our country illegally for years.”
She also issued a broader response about crime’s impact on Americans, saying, “Unfortunately, so many families in this country have been made victims by crime, and that’s why President Trump is working every single day to make America safe and get these criminal aliens off of our streets.”
The Department of Homeland Security also responded after Friday’s plea announcement.
DHS spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin said, “We’re glad to see justice was served and this criminal illegal alien will no longer be free on America’s streets to victimize more Americans.”
The theft occurred amid ongoing reports of organized theft groups coming from outside the United States and targeting cities with high rates of property crime.
The case involving Noem’s purse attracted national attention because of the sensitive items inside, including her passport and DHS identification.
Authorities have not released further information about whether any of the stolen items have been recovered. Court records indicate that the thefts tied to Bustamante Leiva were part of a broader pattern of criminal activity taking place across multiple dates.
Bustamante Leiva remains in federal custody pending sentencing. His removal from the United States is expected to follow the completion of his prison term under the terms of the plea deal.
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