Purse Thief Who Targeted Kristi Noem Sentenced to 36 Months for Wire Fraud and First-Degree Theft

WASHINGTON -- Mario Bustamante Leiva, 50, a Chilean national illegally residing in the United States, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 36 months in prison in connection to a string of thefts that included stealing the Gucci handbag belonging to former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi L. Noem as she dined with her family at a District restaurant, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.

Leiva pleaded guilty Nov. 21, 2025, before Judge Trevor N. McFadden to three counts of wire fraud and one count of first-degree theft. At the completion of his 36-month prison sentence, Leiva will be subject to deportation.

"Bustamante Leiva came to Washington illegally to prey on citizens of the District. He methodically targeted women at restaurants, stealing their purses, and monetizing the stolen cards within minutes," said U.S. Attorney Pirro. "His pattern of theft ends here. He will serve his prison term and be deported."

According to court papers, on three separate days in April 2025, Bustamante Leiva targeted female diners at restaurants in the District of Columbia. During the offenses, Bustamante Leiva surveilled his targets, stole purses containing wallets, credit cards, and personal identifying information, and used the stolen cards to make fraudulent purchases within minutes of each theft. During one of those offenses, Bustamante Leiva worked in concert with his co-defendant, Cristian Montecino-Sanzana.

On April 12, 2025, surveillance video captured the defendants pausing outside Nando's, located in the 800 block of F Street NW, appearing to peer through the front window. Montecino-Sanzana then entered the restaurant while Bustamante Leiva removed his jacket and draped it over his arm. The pair seized a woman's purse and exited the restaurant. Minutes later, they traveled to a supermarket in the 400 block of L Street NW, where Montecino-Sanzana used the victim's stolen credit card to purchase a $500 Visa gift card.

On April 17, 2025, Bustamante Leiva entered the restaurant inside the Westin Hotel in the 900 block of 9th Street NW, where families were dining. He used his coat to conceal his theft of a purse belonging to a victim as she sat with her family. Surveillance video captured him walking behind the woman and taking her purse. He returned to the supermarket, where he used the victim's stolen credit card to purchase wine and a $400 gift card. He later used the gift card to pay for a motel room in the 6700 block of Georgia Avenue NW.

On April 20, 2025, Bustamante Leiva entered Capital Burger in the 1000 block of 7th Street NW, where he deliberately seated himself within arm's reach of his next victim. Unbeknownst to him, that victim was then-Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem who was having dinner with her family. Surveillance cameras recorded Bustamente Leiva repeatedly looking down toward Noem's purse before bending down and snatching it. Noem's purse contained several credit cards and about $3,000 in cash.

Surveillance photo of Bustamante Leiva with Kristi Noem's purse and wallet.

After the theft, Bustamante Leiva traveled to a restaurant in the 2900 block of M Street NW, where surveillance cameras recorded him in possession of Noem's purse, wallet, and at least one of her credit cards, which he used to make an unauthorized purchase.

On April 26, 2025, law enforcement located Bustamante Leiva at a motel in the 6700 block of Georgia Avenue NW and arrested him. A search of his room recovered Noem's purse and wallet, the gift card purchased with a stolen card, about $3,174 in cash, and other items.

Bustamante Leiva entered the United States at Orlando International Airport on Aug. 16, 2021, on a visa waiver authorizing him to remain until Nov. 13, 2021. He did not leave and continued to reside in the country illegally. He also has active warrants in Utah and New York stemming from 2021 charges involving retail theft, credit card theft, and stolen property.

Co-defendant Montecino-Sanzana was sentenced on March 13, 2026, to 13 months of incarceration and three years of supervised release for his role in one of the thefts. He also faces deportation at the completion of his prison term.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service and Metropolitan Police Department. The matter was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Helfand.

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