2nd Suspect Nabbed in Kristi Noem Robbery—Potentially Connected to an Organized East Coast Robbery Ring

As we’ve reported, a thief snatched Department of Homeland Security Director Kristi Noem’s purse on Easter Sunday—a bag that contained $3,000, as well as her DHS badge, passport, driver's license, and mobile phone.

Reality came Saturday for suspect Mario Bustamante Leiva, a 49-year-old Chilean national with a long history of international theft, as authorities took him into custody.

But now the plot thickens: the U.S. Secret Service posted on their website Sunday that they had captured an accomplice in Miami:

BREAKING: Second suspect arrested after illegal alien was accused of stealing DHS chief Kristi Noem's purse in D.C. pic.twitter.com/8wwi8VliFo
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) April 27, 2025

Even more concerning, the pair may be associated with an organized crime ring, according to a report:

Investigators believe the arrest could be connected to an organized East Coast robbery ring - a network of career criminals exploiting America's immigration failures while targeting wealthy and high-profile individuals.
The brazenness of the theft, carried out in broad daylight stunned politicians and law enforcement alike, not least because the victim was the nation's top Homeland Security official and under 24/7 Secret Service protection.

Phone and $3000 - Where Was Secret Service?

The USSS says they are preparing to press charges:

The suspect is currently being held on an immigration detainer as charges are finalized in coordination with the Metropolitan Police Department of Washington, D.C., the U.S. Secret Service, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. The defendant's name will be released upon the filing of those charges.

Expect Maryland Dem Sen. Chris Van Hollen and other leftists to soon come to this dynamic duo's defense:

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Here’s how the robbery went down, per RedState’s Jennifer Oliver O’Connell:

The suspect was a white male wearing dark clothing, a dark-colored baseball hat and a white N95 mask, according to two sources familiar with the surveillance footage.
That person entered Capital Burger at 7:55 p.m., sat near Noem’s table, scooted closer and used his foot to slide her purse toward him, according to surveillance footage viewed by law enforcement, sources said. Within minutes, the man picked up Noem’s purse, placed it under his jacket, walked out of the restaurant and down the street, they said.
While some reports alleged that Noem may have been targeted because she is the DHS Secretary, according to NBC News, D.C. Metro police records indicated that another woman was targeted at a nearby eatery three days prior to the theft of Noem's purse, with a similar MO.

Imagine this and try not to laugh.

You are a criminal illegal and you see a beautiful woman and you decide to snatch her purse only to find out she is in charge of deporting criminal illegals.

Mario Bustamante Leiva meet Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem.

Adios Amigo! pic.twitter.com/pHFm1GzxsA
— C3 (@C_3C_3) April 27, 2025

It is unclear what part the as-yet-to-named accomplice played in the brazen operation—was he a spotter, a look-out, or the like? The two perps apparently have a long history together:

The pair are also thought to be part of the same network accused of terrorizing patrons of upscale restaurants, hotels, and coffee shops from New York to Florida.
Mario Bustamante-Leiva, the alleged ringleader, is no amateur.
A father of three from Santiago, Chile, he has been living illegally in the United States for years, despite a rap sheet that stretches across continents.

One thing is clear—when the United States Director of Homeland Security gets robbed in public by illegal aliens, you know it’s time for change.

Thank you to @SecretService @ICEgov and 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…
— Secretary Kristi Noem (@Sec_Noem) April 27, 2025

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.

Thanks to President Trump, illegal immigration into our great country has virtually stopped. Despite the radical left's lies, new legislation wasn't needed to secure our border, just a new president.

Help us continue to report the truth about the president's border policies and mass deportations. Join RedState’s VIP and use promo code FIGHT to get 60% off your membership.