Pretrial detention for man accused of stealing Kristi Noem's purse
By MICHAEL KUNZELMAN
Updated 3:49 PM EDT, May 21, 2025
WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal magistrate judge on Wednesday ordered the pretrial detention of a man charged with stealing a purse from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem while she dined at a restaurant under the protection of Secret Service agents.
U.S. Magistrate Matthew Sharbaugh concluded after a hearing that the suspect, Mario Bustamante Leiva, must remain jailed because he poses a flight risk.
Bustamante Leiva, a 49-year-old a native of Chile, pleaded not guilty to charges of wire fraud, robbery and aggravated identity theft.
Video captured Bustamante Leiva taking Noem’s purse while she dined at a restaurant in Washington, D.C., on April 20, investigators said. Bustamante Leiva also is charged with stealing purses from two other people at other restaurants earlier last month.
Prosecutors didn’t argue that Leiva poses any danger to the public. One of his attorneys, Ubong Akpan, said purse snatching is “not the most serious case that we have in the federal courts” ...
https://apnews.com/article/kristi-noem-stolen-purse-57975e7d3ce4b0d91ee448d66017ebe7