Man Who Stole Kristi Noem's Purse In D.C. Gets Three Years
A man who stole South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem's purse in a Washington, D.C. restaurant was sentenced to three years in prison. The sentencing follows the theft inside the restaurant and official legal proceedings reported by ABC News.
The incident attracted public attention because Noem is a high-profile elected official and because the theft occurred in a public space. The three-year term underscores that thefts involving public figures or carried out in public places can lead to substantial jail time, even when the property stolen might not be of high monetary value.
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đ Key Facts
- Mario Bustamante Leiva was sentenced to three years in federal prison for theft and wire fraud in Washington, D.C.
- He stole then-Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's Gucci handbag in April 2025, containing about $3,000 in cash and credit cards.
- Bustamante Leiva, a 50-year-old Chilean national who entered the U.S. illegally, faces deportation after completing his sentence.
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April 22, 2026