Illegal Resident Arrested for Purse Theft of Kristi Noem

Authorities have confirmed the arrest of a man on Saturday, accused in the case related to the theft of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's purse on Easter Sunday.

Kristi Noem alleged that the man was not legally authorized to be in the United States and labeled him a 'habitual offender,' though she withheld specifics regarding his immigration status.

The suspect, Mario Bustamante Leiva, aged 49, faces charges of robbery, and is also under investigation for additional offenses by the U.S. Secret Service.

Matt McCool, the Secret Service's senior agent at the Washington, D.C. branch, indicated that the investigation is looking into further criminal activities, such as potential electronic device and credit card scams attributed to Bustamante Leiva.

Bustamante Leiva was apprehended without incident within the Washington, D.C. area.

The theft occurred on Sunday, April 21, at a dining establishment in Washington, D.C., where Noem's purse was stolen under her chair. The bag contained vital personal belongings including her driver's license, passport, a Department of Homeland Security identification badge, checks, and approximately $3,000 in cash. Items such as credit cards, cosmetics, and medication were also reported missing, although her mobile phone was not among the stolen items.

Security cameras reportedly captured the suspect, disguised with a mask, taking the bag surreptitiously while Noem was preoccupied.