Purse Thief Who Targeted Kristi Noem Sentenced to 36 Months for Wire Fraud and First-Degree Theft

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Case Summary

Mario Bustamante Leiva, a Chilean national, has been sentenced to 36 months in prison for his role in a string of thefts that included stealing the Gucci handbag belonging to former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi L. Noem.

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Purse Thief Who Targeted Kristi Noem Sentenced to 36 Months for Wire Fraud and First-Degree Theft

Media Coverage · April 22, 2026

Mario Bustamante Leiva, a 50-year-old Chilean national, was sentenced to 36 months in prison for wire fraud and first-degree theft. He targeted several individuals, including former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, stealing a Gucci handbag from her during a dinner at a restaurant. This sentence holds Leiva accountable for his crimes.

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Key Issues

• • Theft
• • Wire fraud

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Mario Bustamante Leiva, a 50-year-old Chilean national, was sentenced to 36 months in prison for wire fraud and first-degree theft. He targeted several individuals, including former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, stealing a Gucci

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Mario Bustamante Leiva, 50, a Chilean national illegally residing in the United States, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 36 months in prison in connection to a string of thefts that included stealing the Gucci handbag belonging to former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi L. Noem as she dined with her family at a District restaurant.

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Media Coverage April 22, 2026

Purse Thief Who Targeted Kristi Noem Sentenced to 36 Months for Wire Fraud and First-Degree Theft

Mario Bustamante Leiva, a 50-year-old Chilean national, was sentenced to 36 months in prison for wire fraud and first-degree theft. He targeted several individuals, including former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, stealing a Gucci handbag from her during a dinner at a restaurant. This sentence holds Leiva accountable for his crimes.

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Purse Thief Who Targeted Kristi Noem Sentenced to 36 Months for Wire Fraud and First-Degree Theft

Mario Bustamante Leiva, 50, a Chilean national illegally residing in the United States, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 36 months in prison in connection to a string …

Apr 22, 2026 · 1 min read