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Chilean National Pleads Guilty to Stealing DHS Secretary Kristi Noem’s Purse

Mario Bustamante Leiva, a Chilean national, pleaded guilty to wire fraud, aiding and abetting, and first-degree theft for allegedly stealing DHS Secretary Kristi Noem’s purse in Washington, D.C. The bag reportedly contained about $3,000, a DHS access badge, passport, driver’s license, blank checks, keys and multiple credit cards. Prosecutors say he used the cards to make purchases, including about $200 in Georgetown, and he faces potential deportation after sentencing.

06:04 AM, 11/28/2025Politics

A Chilean national, Mario Bustamante Leiva, pleaded guilty last week to wire fraud, aiding and abetting, and first-degree theft after federal prosecutors said he stole the purse of Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem earlier this year in Washington, D.C. He faces possible deportation after serving any sentence imposed.

Federal court records allege Bustamante Leiva carried out multiple thefts across the District of Columbia, focusing on restaurant diners. Prosecutors say he would stealthily take purses and then use victims’ credit cards to make fraudulent purchases.

According to charging documents, Noem was dining at Capital Burger in Washington when Bustamante Leiva "stealthily seized" her bag. The purse reportedly contained about $3,000 in cash, a DHS access badge, Noem’s passport and driver’s license, blank checks, keys and multiple credit cards.

Earlier paperwork states Bustamante Leiva took a bus from Chinatown to Georgetown and used Noem’s credit cards to spend roughly $200 at Angolo Ristorante Italiano. Prosecutors also say he lingered at the bar until about midnight, then fell asleep for several hours at an outdoor table.

After his arrest, Bustamante Leiva reportedly told authorities he struggles with alcoholism and has memory problems, but he admitted to taking Noem’s bag. An alleged co-conspirator was also detained in connection with the incident, though no charges have been brought against that person to date.

Records indicate Bustamante Leiva acknowledged he is removable from the United States upon completion of any sentence imposed in this case and therefore may face deportation.

In a statement to The Washington Post, Noem described the suspect as a “career criminal” and criticized the presence of undocumented offenders. She later recounted the theft on a podcast, saying she felt her purse being dragged away and watched as the thief covered it with a coat before taking it.

It remains unclear whether the purse and all of its contents have since been returned. Prosecutors will proceed with sentencing following the guilty plea, and immigration authorities may begin removal proceedings depending on the outcome.

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