Police have apprehended two men linked to the theft of Secretary Kristi Noem’s handbag in Washington, D.C. The suspects face serious charges and a history of criminal activity has come to light.
Two Arrested in Kristi Noem Handbag Theft Case
Two Arrested in Kristi Noem Handbag Theft Case
U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's designer bag stolen during family dinner, leading to arrests.
Police in Washington, D.C. have arrested two individuals connected to the theft of a designer handbag belonging to U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. Noem's handbag, which reportedly contained $3,000 in cash, credit cards, and her Homeland Security badge, was stolen while she was dining with her family on Easter Sunday at the popular Capital Burger restaurant.
On Saturday, authorities detained 49-year-old Mario Bustamante Leiva, while 51-year-old Cristian Rodrigo Montecino-Sanzanaat was apprehended by the U.S. Secret Service in Miami on Sunday. Bustamante Leiva faces charges of robbery, aggravated identity theft, and wire fraud. A criminal complaint filed on Monday indicated his involvement in several similar robberies during which the stolen proceeds were misused for personal expenditures such as gift cards and hotel rooms.
Security footage allegedly captured Bustamante Leiva stealing the handbag and later traveling by bus to an Italian restaurant, where he used one of Noem's credit cards to cover a bill of $205.87 (£153.21). Meanwhile, Montecino-Sanzanaat's arrest in Miami linked him to a broader pattern of thefts occurring in Washington.
There has been no immediate identifiable legal representation for the suspects. Bustamante Leiva, a Chilean national, has a past conviction in London for theft-related crimes in 2015. In a statement on social media platform X, Noem condemned the suspect as a "career criminal" and noted that he has been unlawfully residing in the U.S. for an extended period.
Noem disclosed that the cash she carried intended for treating her family to dinner and holiday gifts was taken along with her handbag. Notably, while Noem was under Secret Service protection—agents were present in the restaurant during the incident—they did not notice the theft unfold.
