Who Is Mario Bustamante Leiva? Kristi Noem Bag Theft Suspect Identified

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) in Washington, D.C., on Sunday announced that 49-year-old Mario Bustamante Leiva has been arrested and charged in connection to the recent theft of Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem's bag.

Why It Matters

Noem reported her bag stolen on Easter Sunday while she had dinner with her family in downtown Washington, D.C., raising questions about Noem's security detail. The U.S. Secret Service (USSS) launched an investigation to apprehend the culprit.

The purse contained the secretary's driver's license, prescription medication, apartment keys, passport, DHS access badge, makeup bag, blank checks and approximately $3,000 in cash. DHS previously told Newsweek that the money was meant to "treat her family to dinner, activities, and Easter gifts."

What To Know

"On Saturday, April 26, 2025, members of the Metropolitan Police Department and the United States Secret Service located and arrested 49-year-old Mario Bustamante Leiva," the MPD told Newsweek in an email statement on Sunday. "Leiva was charged with two counts of Robbery (Stealth). He faces additional charges for an offense being investigated by the United States Secret Service."

Separately, Secret Service Washington Field Office Special Agent in Charge Matt McCool told Newsweek in statement, "Following a comprehensive investigation, the Secret Service alleges that the defendant is a serial offender. We have also determined that this incident had no protective nexus to Secretary Noem or her role as Secretary of Homeland Security."

McCool added: "The investigation revealed alleged criminal activity, including potential device and credit card fraud. Given this, the Secret Service will maintain jurisdiction over the case and intends to present its findings to a federal court in coordination with the United States Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia."

Later on Sunday, the USSS said in a statement that a second suspect had been arrested in Miami.

"The individual is believed to be a co-conspirator in those incidents with the primary defendant who is accused of committing a robbery against Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem," the agency said in a press release.

The suspect's name was not released, but the USSS said the individual is being "held on an immigration detainer as charges are finalized." The suspect's identity will be released after charges are filed.

An anonymous law enforcement source talking to CNN said that while Leiva is in custody, multiple other arrests are expected due to the wider connection to a possible theft ring. Additionally, U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Ed Martin told NBC News that Leiva was in the country illegally and believes Leiva will not "be back on the streets in America."

In an article published by The Standard in March 2015, it reported that Leiva was briefly jailed for stealing everything from purses to phones and jewelry from women across London. The then 39-year-old spent four months across the city, targeting women in bars, restaurants and coffee shops.

The outlet reported that Leiva was Chilean and unemployed at the time of his arrest in the United Kingdom, adding that police caught him after he got sloppy while stealing a bag at a bar, at which point police identified him based on CCTV footage of his other crimes. They arrested him at a second bar where he was listening to an iPod he had stolen from someone.

He faced 22 separate charges of theft between July and December 2014 and was sentenced to 12 months concurrent for attempted burglary.

The presiding judge slammed him as "dishonest to your fingertips" and assessed the total value of stolen goods at £21,000—at the time just shy of $28,000.

What People Are Saying

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem wrote on X, formerly Twitter on Sunday: "Thank you to @SecretService @ICEgovand our law enforcement partners for finding and arresting the criminal who stole my bag on Easter Sunday as I shared a meal with my family at a Washington DC restaurant. This individual is a career criminal who has been in our country illegally for years. Unfortunately, so many families in this country have been made victims by crime, and that's why President Trump is working every single day to make America safe and get these criminal aliens off of our streets."

Secret Service Special Agent in Charge Rafael Barros, who helped with the second arrest in Miami said on Sunday: "We are grateful to the Miami Beach Police Department for their swift and outstanding assistance in today's apprehension. After receiving information from Washington, Miami Beach Police officers quickly implemented targeted patrols and located the defendant, who was taken into custody without incident."

What Happens Next?

If criminal charges are filed, DHS will release further public information surrounding those charged in the theft, USSS indicated. Leiva may appear in court early this week to face charges.

Update, 4/27/25 at 7:12 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional comment from the Secret Service.

Update, 4/27/25 at 1:26 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information, context and comment.

Update, 4/27/25 at 2:54 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.