Guy Who Swiped Noem’s Purse Sentenced
Prosecutors released this surveillance image of Bustamante Leiva with Noem's purse. (Department of Justice)
A man from Chile who admitted to stealing the purse of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem at a Washington, DC restaurant has been sentenced to three years behind bars—six months longer than prosecutors had requested. The sentence was handed down roughly a year after the theft took place.
Mario Bustamante Leiva, 50, entered a guilty plea in November. Federal prosecutors had recommended a 30-month sentence, while his defense attorney argued for 15 months, pointing to a troubled past that included abuse, fear, and a long struggle with alcohol addiction. His lawyer also said he has since become sober. After serving his prison term, Bustamante Leiva is expected to be deported.
Authorities said the theft occurred while Noem was dining with family at a Washington restaurant. Bustamante Leiva took her designer handbag, which contained identification documents, her passport, official credentials, and about $3,000 in cash. Investigators later determined that he did not know who she was at the time of the theft.
Prosecutors described the incident as part of a broader pattern. They said Bustamante Leiva targeted women dining in restaurants around the city, stealing their purses and quickly using stolen credit cards. In addition to Noem, two other victims—one from Spain and another from Massachusetts—were also targeted during the same period in April.
Following the theft, he used one of the stolen credit cards at a restaurant in Georgetown. According to court records, he remained there for hours, drinking until late at night before falling asleep at an outdoor table.
Bustamante Leiva has an extensive criminal record that spans multiple countries. His past includes a robbery conviction in Chile in the 1990s and several theft convictions in the United Kingdom, where he previously served a short prison sentence.
He pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including wire fraud and first-degree theft. Court documents note that he will be subject to removal from the United States once his sentence is complete.
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