"Mario Bustamante Leiva, 60, a Chilean citizen who is in the United States illegally, made off with $3,000 in cash and Noem's security badge and passport during the heist last Easter, federal authorities said."
"He methodically targeted women at restaurants, stealing their purses and monetizing the stolen cards within minutes, Pirro said in a statement Wednesday. His pattern of theft ends here."
"On the night of April 20, 2025, Noem had taken her family to dinner for Easter Sunday at the Capital Burger in downtown Washington when Bustamante Leiva sat down at a table next to her, unaware that Noem was the head of homeland security."
Mario Bustamante Leiva, a 60-year-old Chilean citizen, was sentenced to three years in prison for stealing Kristi Noem's handbag while she dined with her family. The theft occurred last Easter, resulting in the loss of $3,000 in cash, Noem's security badge, and passport. Leiva pleaded guilty to first-degree theft and wire fraud, targeting women at restaurants. He faces deportation after serving his sentence. Noem, previously the homeland security secretary, was fired amid scandals in March.
Read at Boston.com
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