Federal Charges Filed Against Suspect in Kristi Noem’s Purse Theft: What You Need to Know

Purse Theft Incident Involving Homeland Security Secretary

A man, Mario Bustamante Leiva, was charged in federal court for stealing a purse belonging to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. This incident occurred on April 20 while Noem was dining in Washington, D.C. under Secret Service protection. Video footage captured Bustamante Leiva taking her purse, and he later used the stolen credit cards to spend over $200 on food and alcohol at another restaurant.

Bustamante Leiva, 49, was arrested on Saturday, but at this time, no attorney is listed for him in court records. The federal agent’s affidavit does not mention Noem by name, but the details match those of the theft involving her.

Additionally, authorities suspect Bustamante Leiva in two other purse thefts from women at different restaurants earlier in the month. He allegedly used a stolen credit card from one of the victims to buy wine at a local grocery store. Investigators believe he may have worked with another person during one of the thefts.

Bustamante Leiva was identified as a suspect after he used a stolen gift card at a motel. When shown a picture of Noem, he claimed he did not know her. Law enforcement later recovered Noem’s purse and wallet from his motel room.

In a statement, Noem described Bustamante Leiva as “a career criminal who has been in our country illegally for years.” Authorities have indicated that there is no evidence suggesting she was specifically targeted due to her position.

According to U.S. Attorney Ed Martin Jr.’s office, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has placed an immigration detainer on Bustamante Leiva, who is originally from Chile.

Cases like this highlight ongoing issues with identity theft and crime. Recent studies show that identity theft affects millions each year, with reported cases growing by 25% in the past two years alone, according to the Federal Trade Commission. Public awareness about these crimes is crucial, as is ensuring that personal information is protected.

As conversations around safety and crime continue, it’s important to remain vigilant. Combating identity theft requires cooperation between law enforcement and the community.

For a deeper understanding of identity theft trends, you can visit the Federal Trade Commission’s report on consumer fraud here.

Check out this related article: Canadians Head to the Polls Amid U.S. Tariff Concerns and Annexation Worries | CNN

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