The masked migrant who was arrested for stealing Homeland Safety Secretary Kristi Noem’s Gucci bag containing $3,000 in money is a Chilean nationwide who was beforehand busted for the same scheme in London, regulation enforcement sources instructed The Publish.
Mario Bustamante-Leiva, 49, of Santiago, was arrested on Saturday after he allegedly made off with the posh shoulder bag whereas Noem, 53, was at an Easter outing together with her household at The Capital Burger in Washington, DC, sources instructed The Publish.
Bustamante-Leiva, who’s within the US illegally, is believed to be half of a giant east coast theft group, with regulation enforcement nonetheless on the hunt for one more undocumented immigrant who was his confederate.
“Thanks to @SecretService @ICEgov and our regulation enforcement companions for locating and arresting the felony who stole my bag on Easter Sunday as I shared a meal with my household at a Washington DC restaurant,” Noem wrote on X.
“This particular person is a profession felony who has been in our nation illegally for years,” she added. “Sadly, so many households on this nation have been made victims by crime, and that’s why President Trump is working each single day to make America secure and get these felony aliens off of our streets.”
US Legal professional Ed Martin mentioned it isn’t probably that Noem was focused based mostly on her high-profile place, including that the suspects have been in all probability attracted to the dear Gucci bag — which additionally contained her driver’s license, passport, DHS badge and condo keys.
“It was frankly… a pleasant wanting purse. This was not an newbie. This was an individual, a thief, that knew how to do that. You would see how he scouted the room out,” Martin instructed NBC Information.
Safety footage captured the second the suspect in a N95 surgical masks, darkish pants, a “fur-type” collar and a ball cap lifted the DHS honcho’s bag earlier than leaving the restaurant — which is positioned a few mile from the White Home and contains a signature burger for $23.
Bustamante-Leiva was beforehand arrested in 2015 for a five-month theft spree in London, the place he made off with almost 28,000 value of telephones, wallets and computer systems, in response to a report from the Each day Mail on the time.
Martin mentioned that Bustamante-Leiva and his confederate won’t ever step foot within the nation once more now that US Immigration and Customs Enforcement is concerned within the case.
“President Trump’s path to us is we cost these people which can be right here illegally and we prosecute them, in addition to deport them when want be, you realize, as quickly as that may occur,” he instructed NBC.
“What I can let you know is he gained’t be again on the streets of America.”
