Mario Bustamante Leiva, 50, pleaded guilty to robbery and fraud charges in Washington D.C. and faces deportation to Chile after serving his sentence.
4:22 PM
A Chilean citizen was sentenced to three years in federal prison for multiple robberies in Washington D.C., including the theft of a luxury wallet from former U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, authorities said.
Mario Bustamante Leiva, 50, pleaded guilty in November to three counts of wire fraud and one count of first-degree robbery, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. Federal Judge Trevor McFadden imposed the sentence and ordered Bustamante's deportation to Chile upon completion of his prison term.
The theft of Noem's Gucci wallet occurred in mid-April 2025 at a restaurant in Washington D.C. Bustamante targeted women in dining establishments, stealing their purses and monetizing the stolen credit cards within minutes, according to federal prosecutors.
"This man arrived in Washington illegally to prey on citizens of the District," said Jeanine Ferris Pirro, the federal prosecutor for the District of Columbia. "Methodically, he attacked women in restaurants, stole their purses and monetized the stolen cards in a matter of minutes. His pattern of robberies ends here. He will serve his prison sentence and be deported."
Investigators identified Bustamante after he used a stolen gift card to make a purchase. The charges against him also included robbing two other individuals and fraudulently charging purchases to their credit cards.
The case was handled by the U.S. Department of Justice, with prosecution by the District of Columbia's federal office.
Former Chilean president defended candidacy before UN General Assembly with backing from Brazil and Mexico, facing three other contenders.
Neurosurgeon Leopoldo Luque testified Thursday in San Isidro court, stating he is innocent and expressing regret over Maradona's November 2020 death.
The Republican-controlled House voted 224-204 Thursday to block the Trump administration from ending temporary protected status for over 350,000 Haitian migrants.
A man opened fire at Mexico's Teotihuacán archaeological site Monday, killing a Canadian tourist and wounding six others before taking his own life.
Pentagon says Navy forces detained the M/T Tifani, a sanctioned vessel carrying Iranian crude, as ceasefire talks face uncertainty.
