Authorities report that the theft occurred while Noem dined at a restaurant, leading to a swift police response and the arrest of two individuals linked to the crime.
**Two Arrested Following Theft of Secretary Kristi Noem’s Designer Handbag**
**Two Arrested Following Theft of Secretary Kristi Noem’s Designer Handbag**
Two suspects apprehended in connection with the theft of US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s bag in Washington, DC.
In a startling incident, two men have been arrested in relation to the theft of a designer handbag belonging to US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. The bag was stolen on Easter Sunday while Noem was dining with her family at the Capital Burger restaurant in Washington, DC.
On Saturday, police apprehended 49-year-old Mario Bustamante Leiva, whose arrest marked the beginning of the investigation into the theft. The following day, the US Secret Service detained 51-year-old Cristian Rodrigo Montecino-Sanzanaat in Miami, believed to be an accomplice in the crime.
Bustamante Leiva faces multiple charges, including robbery, aggravated identity theft, and wire fraud. A criminal complaint filed against him claims he was involved in at least two other robberies and utilized the stolen funds for various purchases, including gift cards and hotel rooms.
The theft unfolded while Noem's Gucci handbag, containing $3,000 in cash, credit cards, her Homeland Security badge, medication, and driver’s license, was left beneath her seat at the restaurant. Security footage reportedly captured Bustamante Leiva taking the handbag and boarding a bus afterwards. He was later seen enjoying a meal at an Italian restaurant, where he used one of Noem’s credit cards to pay for his $205.87 bill.
Authorities reported that Montecino-Sanzanaat was taken into custody in a Miami drug store, with Secret Service officials stating he was part of an ongoing trend of robberies in Washington. The legal representatives for both suspects have yet to be identified.
Bustamante Leiva has a troubling background; he was imprisoned for three years in London back in 2015 after a series of thefts from various establishments. Following the incident, Noem took to social media to describe him as a "career criminal" who has been living in the US illegally for many years.
Noem, a former governor of South Dakota, was reportedly dining out to treat her children and grandchildren, making the incident even more disconcerting. Reassured by the presence of Secret Service agents at the restaurant at the time, it was noted that the agents did not notice the theft until after the suspects had left.
