Suspect in Noem purse snatching tells authorities he didn't recognize her
A complaint filed on Monday reveals more details about the suspects accused of snatching Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's purse from a restaurant in Washington, D.C. last weekend.
Authorities arrested two suspects in connection to the theft of Noem's purse on Easter Sunday at the Capital Burger — reportedly containing roughly $3,000 in cash along with her driver's license, passport, keys and Homeland Security badge. Noem had planned to use the cash to pay for her family's dinner and other Easter activities.
The United States Secret Service and the Metropolitan Police Department arrested the primary suspect, 49-year-old Mario Bustamante Leiva, a Chilean national, in Washington, D.C. on Saturday, according to the complaint. The Secret Service called the individual a 'serial offender' in a statement released about the arrests on Sunday.
The complaint outlines federal charges of wire fraud, aggravated identity theft and robbery against Bustamante Leiva in connection with Noem's theft along with two other incidents that took place between April 12 and April 20. Bustamante Leiva's attorney could not be reached for comment about the charges.
Interim District of Columbia U.S. Attorney Ed Martin, during a Saturday appearance on NBC News, said Bustamante Leiva was in the country illegally. POLITICO could not independently confirm Bustamante Leiva's immigration status.
Noem thanked law enforcement for making the arrest on Sunday, linking the theft to her efforts to carry out President Donald Trump's sweeping immigration crackdown.
'This individual is a career criminal who has been in our country illegally for years,' Noem wrote in a post to X. ' 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.'
According to the complaint, Bustamante Leiva admitted to stealing Noem's purse and denied recognizing Noem when shown a photo of her by law enforcement.
Bustamante Leiva said he used his feet to slide out Noem's purse from underneath the chair she was sitting at before fleeing the restaurant with the bag, according to the complaint. He had told authorities that he still had the purse and that it was inside a motel room purchased using stolen credit cards. Bustamante Leiva also made claims of being an alcoholic and having memory issues.
Bustamante Leiva made $205.87 in fraudulent purchases using Noem's stolen credit cards, according to the filing.
The USSS statement from Sunday also announced a second arrest in Miami in connection with the theft. The agency said the second suspect — whose name hasn't been released — 'is believed to be a co-conspirator with the primary defendant.' Bustamante Leiva said, according to the complaint, that he had only known the individual for a few days before the robberies.
Noem's theft comes as the Trump administration rapidly intensifies its deportation efforts — targeting international students and green card holders involved in last year's pro-Palestinian protests on college campuses.
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