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Serial thief who stole Kristi Noem's handbag sentenced to three years in prison

Serial thief who stole Kristi Noem's handbag sentenced to three years in prison

Summary

A man named Mario Bustamante Leiva was sentenced to three years in prison for stealing a handbag from Kristi Noem, who was a cabinet secretary at the time. The theft happened in a Washington DC restaurant and involved over $3,000 in cash plus personal items. Bustamante Leiva pleaded guilty to several theft-related charges and will face deportation after his prison term.

Key Facts

  • Mario Bustamante Leiva stole Kristi Noem’s handbag while she was dining with family in Washington DC.
  • The handbag contained $3,000 in cash, her driver’s license, passport, and DHS access badge.
  • Bustamante Leiva is a 50-year-old man from Chile.
  • He pleaded guilty to three counts of wire fraud and one count of first-degree theft.
  • Investigators identified him through a gift card bought with a stolen credit card.
  • Police found the stolen bag in Bustamante Leiva’s motel room.
  • Bustamante Leiva often hid stolen items by covering them with a coat and quickly used stolen credit cards.
  • He will be deported after serving his prison sentence.
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