Arrest made in the theft of Kristi Noem's purse and thousands in cash, source says

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Source: CNN

Arrest made in the theft of Kristi Noem's purse and thousands in cash, source says

By Josh Campbell, Kit Maher and John Miller, CNN
2 minute read
Updated 2:12 AM EDT, Sun April 27, 2025


Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on March 27, 2025 in Bogota, Colombia. (Photo by Alex Brandon-Pool/Getty Images) Alex Brandon/Pool/Getty Images/File

(CNN) -- An arrest has been made in the investigation of the theft of a high-end Gucci bag belonging to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, a law enforcement source familiar with the investigation tells CNN. ... One person is in custody and multiple additional arrests are expected in a theft ring recently targeting Washington, DC's, Penn Quarter area, the source said.

Authorities have not yet released specific details about the man's identity, but the arrest came after the US Secret Service launched an investigation to find the perpetrator who stole her bag as she ate dinner with her family on Easter Sunday.

{snip}

As CNN previously reported, surveillance footage of the incident at The Capital Burger restaurant in Washington, DC, showed the suspect purposefully moving close to Noem as he zeroed in on her Gucci bag near her feet, a second law enforcement source said. … The thief, dressed in dark clothing, sat down at an empty table next to Noem with his back facing her and used his left foot to slide the bag away, the source said. He surveyed the restaurant before eventually picking up the bag, covering it with his jacket and leaving. … Only when Noem got up from the table did she realize her bag was missing, the source said.

Items inside the bag included a Louis Vuitton Clemence wallet, Noem’s driver’s license, medication, apartment keys, passport, DHS access badge, makeup bag, blank checks, and about $3,000 in cash, multiple sources said.

{snip}

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/26/politics/kristi-noem-bag-thief-arrested/index.html

---

Why does Kristi Noem get Secret Service protection?

[NJCher]

1. If she can't protect herself

What is she doing as head of the agency that is supposed to protect us?

[SheltieLover]

2. Don't you find it odd that she ate Easter dinner at that rather dumpy restaurant?

I find it equally odd that her family eats with her. Of course, if she has kids, they don't have a choice. Poor kids..

[Kid Berwyn]

12. For some reason, she didn't ask for a Doggie Bag.

Another happy custom she must never have heard about.

[IronLionZion]

43. She has very different plans for doggies

[Grins]

31. "Dumpy?" NM

[SheltieLover]

40. Let's just say it doesn't look like an upscale restaurant to me.

Who the hell eats a burger for Easter? Not that there is anything wrong with doing so, mind you, but with her trying to present this all-important image...

[littlemissmartypants]

3. Hegseth...

Will weigh in on this as soon as he finishes applying his concealer.

[brush]

76. Yeah, she's REAL alert there (sarcasm gif here) as her bag gets stolen from under her nose.

[hlthe2b]

4. umm, okay. So how many months before Noem has fully morphed into:

I say 8 months (if she is there that long)...

[Skittles]

5. NASTY!

don't these people have any real friends who can clue them in?!

[wolfie001]

8. Thanks for the laugh

That's what hate does to a person.

[NJCher]

10. They never know when to

Stop working on themselves, do they?

Only one word for this photo: grotesque.

[yardwork]

13. They all look like this.

Why are all these women disfiguring themselves to look like this?

It's so ugly.

[Irish_Dem]

51. Trying to look like extreme female caricatures.

Trump's fantasy of what women should look like.

Trump Tramps.

[yardwork]

59. It's just so grotesque.

Trump must hate women if this is his ideal.

I notice that Melania has resisted it. She definitely gets work but not these weird face implants and lips.

[Irish_Dem]

61. Yes you can see Trump's hatred and disdain for women by his insistence

they look like Trump Barbie dolls. I call it the Trump Tramp look.

These women go through a lot of expense, pain, disfigurement to meet the Trump
standard. They literally look misshapen and distorted. If you look at some
of the before pictures, these were attractive women.

The plastic facial and body surgery, botox, dental surgery, hair extensions,
make up, etc is all time consuming and in some cases quite painful.

Melania has had quite a bit of work done. Her boob job is grotesque.
But yes she is not near as mutilated as some of the others.
Ivanka didn't go too much overboard either.
But she does not look the same as prior to surgery.

[Marcuse]

14. Digital Dorian Gray.

[niyad]

17. Ohhhh, LOVE IT!!!

[TommyT139]

44. Also known as "Mar-a-lago face" (not kidding)

https://www.glam.com/1808875/mar-a-lago-face-explained/

https://www.msn.com/en-us/fashion-and-style/fashion-trends/why-kimberly-guilfoyle-has-the-worst-case-of-mar-a-lago-face/ar-AA1DoJqP

I'm not judging (out loud, anyway)...but it's an actual thing. Searching the phrase brings up lots more discussion, including from plastic surgeons.

[Hekate]

49. Wow!

[niyad]

57. I saw that name some time back. .maybe around the holidays. All I

could think was "stepford wives".

[niyad]

16. Dear Goddess, you should have warned us. I nearly scared my kitty!

[OMGWTF]

33. Hard to believe that Gavin Newsome was ever married to that fugly monster. She used to be pretty.

That's what hate does to you.

[twodogsbarking]

36. My eyes, my eyes.

[LudwigPastorius]

41. Holy crap...

[dchill]

62. Gotta be some Hutt DNA in that construct.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

6. SecServ are there to protect stray dogs from a Noem incident, hence weren't watching the bag. . . . . nt

[sop]

7. Kristi has Secret Service protection because Cricket actually belonged to John Wick.

[Walleye]

9. I wonder if all of the contents of the bag were recovered?

[JohnnyRingo]

24. Almost certainly the cash will be gone.

Either because it was spent, or....
Untraceable cash money is the first thing people declare to pad a theft report to an insurance company.

[Walleye]

26. Do we even have any idea that she's telling the truth about the cash?

I’m trying to imagine what it would be like if I told the police my bag had $3000 in cash and was stolen. I think that I would be the one arrested and I am a white woman. Can you imagine a black person going to the police and saying somebody stole my bag with $3000 cash in it and they said who was to buy their grandchildren goodies. Who would believe that?

[JohnnyRingo]

67. A drug trafficker would understand.

Or one dealing in stolen goods.
Cash is king in crime circles. That's why they don't print $500 bills anymore.

[Irish_Dem]

52. If Kristi did have that much cash in her purse, it was probably US taxpayer funded expense account.

[Harker]

11. It must have been difficult to lift...

with her makeup bag in it.

[niyad]

15. Uh huhhhhh. The story as originally presented, and apparently still is, is BS.

As a writer, one could not present that scene in a story, and have it accepted.

[yardwork]

20. Has the supposed surveillance video been released.

[Javaman]

23. they found some random person, who also happens to be brown, to take the fall.

and will be deported, as an example of "how bad things are in the U.S."

we will never learn the truth.

[LisaM]

25. I think it's plausible. Designer bags are a target.

I have some nice bags (not as nice as hers) and the bags themselves are a target. I am very careful of where I take them and keep an eye on them at all times - when I do use them. Purses in general are a target. I was attacked at a bus stop once and the guy tried to grab my purse and run. I also had a fair amount of cash because I was getting ready to go out of town. If it hadn't been a Coach bag with a fairly strong lower handle, he probably would have gotten away with it, and the fact that it was a Coach bag probably made it more desirable to him. I was able to fend him off because I screamed really loudly, and fought back, and then, thank God, the bus arrived. I still get the heebie jeebies at that bus stop. And I don't use my nice purses for grocery store trips anymore.

Welcome to the world women live in.

[niyad]

58. It is not the bag itself, but the whole bizarre story. Bag at her feet, guy

supposedly sitting at a table behind her, with his back to her, reaching around with his foot to scoot the bag from under her feet, and nobody noticed. Tucked the bag under his jacket, and just walked out. What in the f'n hell was her ss detail doing? How in the f'n HELL did she not notice the actions of the contortionist, because that is what he had to be to do what was described. Release the video. .except by now they could have created one to match their story.

And, as a woman who knows all too well the world we live in, and carries a LARGE shoulder bag everywhere I go, I know where my purse is every minute when I am out, because I do understand very well. I don't care whether it was Gucci, Hermes, Coach, or something from Goodwill, that story is pure bs.

[Hotler]

18. Convince me she didn't have a firearm in the bag and now it's lost in D.C..

The D.C. pipe bomber is still walking free. Just saying.

[Walleye]

27. If she didn't have a gun in her bag, question why not?

[Polybius]

38. Because she doesn't need one maybe

I believe the Secret Service accompanies cabinet appointees at all times.

[Walleye]

50. I don't know if all of the cabinet members are protected by Secret Service. But most people don't need a gun they carry

Firearms because they enjoy it. i’m just surprised she didn’t have one on her just as a matter of general principle. Being who she is

[orleans]

19. what a relief! cosplay barbie will be getting her makeup back! (hope she uses it and gets pink eye) nt

[Javaman]

21. because she can only defend herself against helpless puppies. nt

[JohnnyRingo]

22. I believe it, but I don't see how he can have his back to her and use his foot to....

drag the bag over to himself. Quite a contortionist.
I wonder if the footage will be released to the public. If it isn't, that'll be suspicious.

[Walleye]

28. We will never see the footage I don't think. It will show Noem to be the clueless chump that she is.

[Sneederbunk]

29. OK, which cabinet member was arrested?

[getagrip_already]

30. So now it's a "high end" gucci bag?

First it was a hermes, then louis voiton, now gucci.

Which is it?

[Prairie Gates]

68. This bozo doesn't have a Hermes bag

Gucci, she can buy. LV, too. Hermes? I don't think so.

[getagrip_already]

78. Whats so special about hermes?

That shitstain atty from nj has one.

When i was a kid, yes - a long tome ago, my mom would take me to paris and she would just walk into hermes and buy purses, scarves, and other items. I often wonder what happened to those....

Just off the street with money.

[Brainfodder]

32. Just give her her swimsuit calendar made available as free .PDF file, already?

Let her replace the Marlboro Man for a new age too, I do not care or mind.

[El Mimbreno]

34. So the article preview cut off like this:

"DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, a law enforcement sour ..."

Sourpuss?

Can't help it, that's how my mind works.

[Botany]

35. Somebody has their priorities really fucked up.

A Gucci handbag that cost > 4K, a Louis Vuitton wallet, 3K in cash, blank checks, DHS access
stuff, keys, passport, and her I.D. probably with her address on it too.

Is she knowingly so guilty or such a shit that taking flight @ a moment’s notice is always
on her mind?

[twodogsbarking]

37. Now they find it, after everyone in the restaurant was deported.

[dobleremolque]

39. Sigh of relief! I was SO losing sleep over this. Not. n/t

[Mr. Sparkle]

42. When i heard an old bag was stolen, i was hoping it would be the last we hear from Kristi Noem

[TalenaGor]

45. wouldnt this be an effective way to 'give' something to someone else? 'I'll set my bag down and look away...'

especially since she was at a...less bougie place than one would expect her to be
a thumb drive maybe....


(edited to correct spelling)

[IronLionZion]

46. Next stop that prison in El Salvador maybe, or some goons will rough him up first

things are not looking good for whoever they arrested.

This is such a strange story. She was quick to blame illegal immigrants and promise to keep Americans safe from them.

[Oopsie Daisy]

47. She looks like a MAGA Stepford clone.

[LudwigPastorius]

48. $3 grand in cash and her passport...

Is that her everyday purse or her "bug out" bag? Both?

Sounds like she wants to always be prepared to exit the country if things quickly go south for the Trump regime.

[bdamomma]

71. Maybe she

was making a "payment" to someone????

[Martin68]

53. Who cares? Is this news?

[Magoo48]

63. My first thought--Who gives a shit?

[Bengus81]

75. To the Trump ass kissers at CNN it's big news. Maybe a FAKE town hall with Noem??

Up for another one CNN??

[Permanut]

54. Smells like a false flag..

[Bengus81]

73. Expensive bag, $3,000 in cash and credit cards and she just tosses it on the floor?

Total BS. Oh...now the person caught is a "career criminal in the US illegally". Oh how fucking convenient eh??

[Martin68]

79. False flag? Only if the culprit turned out to be an illegal immigrant.

[viva la]

55. Multiple arrests expected?

This doesn't sound like a highly sophisticated group project.
Then again, apparently the Secretary isn't smart enough to keep her foot on her fancy purse like the rest of us do.

[womanofthehills]

64. Agree - with cameras everywhere

The thieves can’t be too bright. They probably also have videos of them entering the restaurant, walking down the street etc.

All the designer stuff is such a turnoff too. I like the videos coming out of China on what a rip off the designer bags are.

[Karasu]

56. Couldn't give less of a fuck. This is par for the course when your entire administration is incompetent trash.

[Meowmee]

60. This does not make sense to me

"The thief, dressed in dark clothing, sat down at an empty table next to the puppy murderer with his back facing her and used his left foot to slide the bag away, the source said. "

Please explain to me how he could be sitting with his back to her and use his left foot to slide the bag away? That doesn't seem physically possible??? wth

I would like to see the video of this. The tables don't look close together either... I looked the restaurant up online. They have a lot of bad reviews also, terrible service apparently and more. It looks pretty small so I don't see how they could have corporate events there as some reviews said they were closed for that when they tried to eat there but had not been told they would be closed for an event. People had trouble waiting for a long time when picking up food as well.

[Takket]

65. amazing how quickly a purse theft can get solved when a rich person is the injured party

willing to be 99.9% of these cases end with "we'll let you know if we find anything" and the cops never spend another minute on it.

[Meowmee]

70. When my purse was stolen the police told me they would do nothing

unless they found him with my stuff. Later I went to stores in that shopping center with flyers to warn them. A security personnel in one told me the fbi was investigating it as there had been several purse snatchings there. I never heard back from the police or anyone, as expected. They also never told me it was being investigated by the fbi.

[Takket]

83. "investigated by the fbi" lol

Yeah, sure lol

[Meowmee]

84. That is what I thought 😹

However someone said here they would do that if there were credit card frauds etc. due to the thefts or the police asked them to help.

[Bengus81]

72. [phone]

[mahatmakanejeeves]

66. With any luck, we can have endless congressional investigations of Kristi Noem's purse.

It will be the new Hunter Biden’s laptop.

[mahina]

69. Please be white, please be white , please be white

said my brain

[Hugin]

74. I wasn't aware that the Secret Service did beat work like nabbing purse snatchers.

Good to know.

[MichMan]

80. It was DC police

The Washington Metropolitan Police Department said a 49-year-old man named Mario Bustamante Leiva was arrested on Saturday night and charged with two counts of robbery involving two separate incidents on April 12 and April 17. The purse snatching involving Noem was on April 20, Easter Sunday.

Washington police said the man faces "additional charges for an offense being investigated by the United States Secret Service," an apparent reference to the theft involving Noem.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/suspect-arrested-in-theft-of-us-homeland-security-chief-kristi-noems-purse/ar-AA1DL7oL?ocid=BingNewsSerp

[Hugin]

82. I was referring to this from the OP...

“ Authorities have not yet released specific details about the man's identity, but the arrest came after the US Secret Service launched an investigation to find the perpetrator who stole her bag as she ate dinner with her family on Easter Sunday.”

[MichMan]

77. Identity of suspects

Two people were arrested this weekend in connection with the Easter Sunday theft of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's purse, authorities confirmed Sunday.

The first suspect was arrested in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, according to the U.S. Secret Service. Noem said Sunday that the man was in the country illegally. She called the suspect a "career criminal," but did not specify any more details about the individual's immigration status.

"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."

The Secret Service also confirmed a second suspect, Cristian Rodrigo Montecino-Sanzanaat, 51, was arrested at a Walgreens in South Beach. The Secret Service said he's being held on an immigration detainer, and agents said he's been linked to "a pattern of robberies and thefts" in Washington, D.C.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/2-suspects-arrested-in-theft-of-noems-bag-were-in-us-illegally-officials/ar-AA1DIUN5?ocid=BingNewsSerp

[marble falls]

81. She gets protection because there is fear she's in danger of looking up when it rains and drowning ...

... occupational risk of hiring mouth breathers.