Illegal immigrant sentenced to 3 years in prison for stealing Kristi Noem's Gucci bag, wire fraud

A Chilean national who was residing in the U.S. illegally was sentenced Wednesday to three years in prison for wire fraud and a slew of thefts that included snatching former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's Gucci handbag.  

Mario Bustamante Leiva, 50, originally from Chile, pleaded guilty last year to three counts of wire fraud and one count of first-degree theft. He targeted women dining in Washington, D.C., restaurants on three separate days in April 2025, according to the District of Columbia Attorney's Office, 

Prosecutors say he watched his victims, stole their purses, then used their credit cards and other personal identifying information to make fraudulent purchases shortly after the thefts. 

He faces deportation at the completion of his prison term. 

On April 20, 2025, Leiva entered Capital Burger and seated himself within arm's reach of Noem, who was having dinner with her family. 

Surveillance cameras show Leiva looking down toward Noem's purse multiple times before snatching it. The purse contained several credit cards and $3,000 in cash. Leiva later used Noem's credit cards to make unauthorized purchases. 

"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," U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro said in a statement.