In a disturbing series of events, Mario Bustamante Leiva, a 49-year-old Chilean national, stands accused of stealing the purse belonging to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. Prior to this incident, Bustamante-Leiva had been arrested and released by the New York Police Department (NYPD) just weeks earlier. This earlier arrest took place in Times Square, where he was charged with grand larceny after he snatched a fanny pack from an international student. Following this theft, he reportedly racked up nearly $1,200 in fraudulent charges using the victim’s credit cards within a mere twenty minutes.
The NYPD’s actions, influenced by the city’s sanctuary city laws, prevented them from notifying federal immigration authorities about Bustamante-Leiva’s immigration status. After failing to appear for his court date, he became a fugitive, evading police attention until he reportedly targeted Noem while she was dining with family during Easter Sunday in Washington, D.C. Bustamante-Leiva claimed ignorance about the bag’s ownership and its high-profile owner, despite the serious implications of his actions.
The luxury Gucci bag taken from Noem contained not only significant cash—approximately $3,000—but also personal documents such as her driver’s license, passport, and even a badge for her position at DHS. The bag was snatched right from the floor beneath her dining table, a move described in police complaints as both bold and planned. Following the theft, Bustamante-Leiva’s subsequent actions included using Noem’s credit cards to make purchases at local establishments, including a restaurant visit that involved a significant spree on alcohol and food shortly after the robbery.
On the Saturday following the incident, Bustamante-Leiva was apprehended by the Metropolitan Police Department and the Secret Service, who initially charged him with two counts of robbery. As the investigation progressed, federal charges were subsequently filed against him, linking him to multiple robberies that took place over various days in 2024 and 2025, where he allegedly continued to make fraudulent purchases post-theft from his victims.
Eye-witness accounts and surveillance footage captured Bustamante-Leiva during the theft, showing the thief wearing a mask and baseball cap to conceal his identity. Despite his criminal history, which includes a previous arrest for shoplifting in Utah and a more serious incident in London involving a theft spree totaling $28,000, Bustamante-Leiva expressed a desire to return to New York voluntarily after his arrest. Currently, he remains detained in Washington, D.C., awaiting his transfer back to New York for further legal proceedings.
Additionally, authorities believe that a second individual, an alleged accomplice of Bustamante-Leiva, has also been arrested in connection with the theft from Noem. While the identity of this accomplice has not yet been made public, officials confirmed that the suspect is held under an immigration detainer as investigations continue. The crime has not only raised questions about safety in sanctuary cities but has also drawn national attention due to the high profile of the victim involved.
