Law enforcement authorities have made a second arrest in connection with the theft of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s purse, which occurred at a Washington, D.C., restaurant last Sunday. The arrest was made in South Florida, where the suspect, implicated in a series of robberies, was apprehended with the assistance of the Miami Beach Police Department and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The second suspect is believed to have been involved in a pattern of thefts with the primary defendant, Mario E. Bustamante Leiva, a 49-year-old Chilean national, who was arrested on Saturday. According to U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Ed Martin, the second suspect is also in the U.S. illegally and faces charges related to possessing a stolen or fictitious driver’s license.
Martin stated that Bustamante Leiva was not targeting Noem because of her role as DHS Secretary, but rather due to her purse being attractive to thieves. “It was a nice looking purse,” Martin commented, emphasizing that the crime appeared to be opportunistic.
Bustamante Leiva has been charged with two counts of robbery related to incidents that occurred before Noem’s purse was stolen. In both cases, the suspect reportedly stole purses from the back of victims’ seats while they were eating in restaurants. Authorities also suggest Bustamante Leiva may be involved in credit card fraud, which has led the Secret Service to take over the investigation.
The Secret Service’s Matt McCool described Bustamante Leiva as a “serial offender,” with a history of similar crimes. The investigation revealed potential fraud linked to stolen credit cards and other devices. Bustamante Leiva is now facing additional charges related to the theft of Noem’s purse.
Noem’s purse, stolen while she dined at Capital Burger in Washington, D.C., contained $3,000 in cash, her Department of Homeland Security access badge, passport, credit cards, keys, and a driver’s license. Surveillance footage captured the moment the masked man took the purse, passing two plainclothes Secret Service agents as he made his way out.
Although Noem was unavailable for comment on the incident, her office and law enforcement agencies continue to investigate, with Bustamante Leiva expected to face further legal actions. The investigation is ongoing as authorities work to apprehend additional accomplices linked to the robbery spree.
As Secretary of Homeland Security, Noem receives Secret Service protection, and the stolen items are considered crucial to her security and government role. The Secret Service and other agencies are working to ensure that justice is served in this high-profile case.
