Federal charges have been filed against a Chilean national for the high-profile theft of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s purse in Washington, D.C. The arrest highlights growing concerns about crime in the nation’s capital and immigration enforcement. Was this a targeted attack from the suspect?
Federal Charges and Arrest Details
Mario Bustamante Leiva faces serious federal charges, including aggravated identity theft, robbery, and wire fraud, for stealing Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s purse. The theft occurred while Noem was dining at a Washington, D.C. restaurant on Easter Sunday, with the suspect allegedly making off with a $600 Louis Vuitton Clemence Purse containing $3,000 in cash, a passport, apartment keys, and her DHS badge.
Authorities arrested Bustamante Leiva after he used Noem’s stolen credit cards to purchase over $200 in food and alcohol. Surveillance photos included in the charging documents were instrumental in identifying the suspect, who was apprehended by a joint team of police and federal agents at a motel where they recovered Noem’s purse and wallet.
BREAKING: A law enforcement source in D.C. has confirmed to me the man accused of stealing DHS Sec. Noem’s purse is Mario Bustamante Leiva. U.S. Attorney for D.C. Ed Martin has said the man is in the U.S. illegally.
A Daily Mail article from 2015 says Bustamante Leiva is Chilean… pic.twitter.com/6c1h6nPTsL
— Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) April 27, 2025
Immigration Status and Criminal History
Noem publicly described the suspect as a “career criminal” and an illegal immigrant, statements that have now been confirmed by official sources. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has placed an immigration detainer on Bustamante Leiva, who is a native of Chile and described in court documents as a “serial offender” who has been in the United States for years.
Investigators determined that Bustamante Leiva was not targeting Noem specifically because of her position but rather as part of a pattern of similar crimes. He is also suspected of stealing purses from two other individuals earlier in the month, using a stolen credit card from one of those victims to purchase wine at a grocery store.
JUST IN: A second suspect tied to a pattern of thefts & robberies in DC has been apprehended by @SecretService & @ICEgov, with outstanding assistance from @MiamiBeachPD. Details on both cases here https://t.co/Gp0NC3pq6S pic.twitter.com/BTuQdEY7Bn
— Anthony Guglielmi (@SecretSvcSpox) April 27, 2025
Co-Conspirator and Broader Implications
A second suspect, also reported to be an illegal alien from Chile, has been arrested as a co-conspirator in connection with the thefts. This individual is currently being held on an ICE detainer, further highlighting the immigration dimension of the case that has become a focal point in public discussions.
Bustamante Leiva was identified after using a stolen gift card at the motel where he was staying, demonstrating the digital trail that ultimately led to his capture. The theft of sensitive government credentials, including a DHS badge, raises serious security concerns beyond the financial crimes involved in the case.