Chilean Man Sentenced Over Theft Of Noem's Handbag
Mario Bustamante Leiva was sentenced to three years for stealing Kristi Noem’s Gucci bag containing about $3,000 and credit cards; he faces deportation after his sentence, prosecutors said.
Al JazeeraUS suspect accused of stealing Kristi Noem’s purse sentenced to three years
Breitbart NewsIllegal Alien Sentenced to 3 Years in Prison for Stealing Kristi Noem's Purse
Joe.My.God.Man Who Stole ICE Barbie's Purse Gets Three Years - Joe.My.God.
BBC NewsSerial thief who stole Kristi Noem's handbag sentenced to three years in prison
Overview
U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden sentenced Mario Bustamante Leiva to three years in prison for stealing Kristi Noem's handbag and related thefts, the Department of Justice said.
The theft occurred on April 20, 2025, when Noem, then Homeland Security secretary, dined at Capital Burger under Secret Service protection, prosecutors said.
Investigators identified Bustamante Leiva after he used a stolen gift card to make a purchase, recovered Noem's bag from his motel room, and the Secret Service investigated alongside police, the Justice Department said.
Bustamante Leiva, 50, pleaded guilty in November to three counts of wire fraud and one count of first-degree theft; his co-defendant, Cristian Montecino-Sanzana, was sentenced to 13 months and faces deportation, prosecutors said.
Officials said Bustamante Leiva will be deported after serving his three-year sentence, the Justice Department said.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the story as a crime–immigration narrative by foregrounding the defendant’s illegal entry and impending deportation, spotlighting DOJ quotes that depict him as a predator, and emphasizing Noem’s prominence. those are editorial choices in placement and quote selection; the charged phrases themselves originate in source statements, not editorial wording.