Man Who Swiped Kristi Noem's Purse From Restaurant Is Sentenced
Published on April 23, 2026.
Mario Bustamante Leiva, a 50-year-old native of Chile, has been sentenced to three years in prison for a string of thefts in Washington. He stole a purse from then-Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem while she was dining at a restaurant under the protection of Secret Service agents in 2025. Noem's purse had credit cards and about $3,000 in cash. Leiva is facing deportation after his sentence by U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden.
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