Authorities arrested two males in reference to the theft of a designer purse belonging to US Homeland Safety Secretary Kristi Noem.
Noem’s bag was stolen on Easter Sunday whereas she was eating in a well-liked Washington DC restaurant.
On Saturday, police arrested 49-year-old Mario Bustamante Leiva.
And on Sunday the US Secret Service mentioned it apprehended an alleged co-conspirator in Miami. CBS Information, the BBC’s US information associate, named the suspect as 51-year-old Cristian Rodrigo Montecino-Sanzanaat.
Bustamante Leiva was charged with theft, aggravated id theft and wire fraud.
A felony criticism filed Monday alleged that he was concerned in two different robberies, and spent the proceeds on reward playing cards, resort rooms and different purchases.
Noem, the previous governor of South Dakota, was consuming on the in style Capital Burger restaurant together with her Gucci purse sitting by her toes beneath her seat.
After he allegedly was noticed on safety video taking the bag, Bustamante Leiva obtained on a bus and was seen later that night at an Italian restaurant. He’s accused of spending $205.87 (£153.21) on meals and drinks, paying with one among Noem’s bank cards.
Montecino-Sanzanaat was arrested in a Miami drug retailer, authorities mentioned, and Secret Service officers mentioned he was linked to “a sample of robberies and thefts” in Washington.
Attorneys for the suspects couldn’t be instantly recognized. In 2015, Bustamante Leiva, a Chilean citizen, was jailed for 3 years by a court docket in London after a string of thefts from sandwich retailers, bars and pubs.
In a put up on X, Noem mentioned the suspect “is a profession felony who has been in our nation illegally for years.”
Noem had $3,000 (£2,330) in money, together with bank cards, her Homeland Safety badge, medicine and her driving licence in her bag.
A Division of Homeland Safety spokesperson mentioned Noem had withdrawn the money to deal with her kids and grandchildren to dinner, actions and vacation items.
Like different cupboard officers, Noem receives a Secret Service safety element. Brokers had been within the restaurant on the time however didn’t instantly detect the theft.
