An illegal immigrant has pleaded guilty to stealing DHS Secretary Kristi Noem’s Gucci bag, which contained $3,000 cash, a DHS badge, and personal documents, and faces deportation. Mario Bustamante-Leiva, a 49-year-old Chilean national, is accused of multiple thefts in Washington, D.C., including fraudulent credit card use and prior convictions in Chile and the UK.
According to court records, Bustamante-Leiva admitted to committing a string of thefts between April 12 and 20, targeting individuals at restaurants across the city. He allegedly used victims’ credit cards for fraudulent purchases after each theft, a practice that could lead to additional charges. The stolen bag, taken from the floor beside Noem’s table at The Capital Burger, also included her driver’s license, passport, medication, makeup, blank checks, and a Louis Vuitton Clemence wallet.
The charges against Bustamante-Leiva include wire fraud, aiding and abetting, and first-degree theft, with potential penalties of up to 20 years in prison and $250,000 in fines for wire fraud, and 10 years and $25,000 in fines for theft. Sentencing guidelines recommend a fine of $9,500, forfeitures of $3,174, and additional restitution to be determined by the judge. His prior convictions in Chile and the UK, including seven separate jail terms, underscore a pattern of legal evasion.
Bustamante-Leiva was arrested on April 26 by the Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Secret Service, following an investigation into his thefts. Security footage from the restaurant shows a white man wearing an N95 mask, dark pants, and a baseball cap grabbing the bag and exiting the premises. Noem revealed that the theft appeared professional, raising questions about the methods used by the suspect.
Federal authorities have noted the seriousness of the case, emphasizing the potential for significant penalties and the implications of Bustamante-Leiva’s criminal history. The Department of Justice has not yet provided further details, though the incident has drawn attention to the challenges of securing personal belongings in public spaces.