Thief who stole Noem’s handbag during DC dinner gets 3-year prison sentence

WASHINGTON, DC: A Chilean national accused of lifting former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s handbag during a Washington dinner outing was sentenced Wednesday, April 22, to three years in federal prison.

Prosecutors said the restaurant theft was only one part of a larger pattern of fraud and theft incidents in the capital.

After completing his sentence, the defendant is also expected to face immigration removal proceedings.

Accused stole Noem's purse

Federal authorities said Mario Bustamante Leiva took Noem’s designer purse while she was dining with family in April 2025.

Investigators said the bag had been placed near her seating area when it was quietly removed.

Officials later said Bustamante Leiva did not realize at the time that the victim was a Cabinet-level official protected by the Secret Service.

The purse reportedly contained personal items, credit cards and about $3,000 in cash.

Law enforcement later recovered the stolen bag from the suspect’s motel room. 

Bustamante Leiva, 50, later pleaded guilty to three wire fraud counts and one theft charge, according to court filings.

Judge hands down sentence to Leiva

US District Judge Trevor McFadden sentenced Bustamante Leiva to 36 months in prison on Wednesday.

Prosecutors argued the defendant had repeatedly targeted people in Washington and used stolen financial items after the thefts.

Authorities linked him to crimes involving at least two other victims in separate incidents.

Jeanine Pirro said the sentencing marked the end of a repeat crime spree.

“Bustamante Leiva came to Washington illegally to prey on citizens of the district. His pattern of theft ends here.”

Officials said immigration proceedings are expected after he finishes serving time.

A second man, Cristian Montecino-Sananza, was also charged in connection with one of the related cases. He previously received a 13-month prison sentence for his role.

Investigators said they were able to build the case after Bustamante Leiva allegedly used a stolen gift card, which helped authorities trace purchases and identify him as a suspect in multiple thefts.

The case gained unusual attention because the victim was one of the country’s top homeland security officials and was under Secret Service protection when the theft happened.

Noem publicly addressed the incident last year and described the suspect as a criminal who had been in the United States illegally for years.

Officials later emphasized there was no indication the theft was politically motivated or that Noem was personally targeted because of her government role.

Instead, investigators said it appeared to be a crime of opportunity carried out in a crowded restaurant setting.