She was having lunch with her family at Easter when a second arrest occurred in connection with theft of Christie Noem’s wallet from the Department of Homeland Security.
Authorities announced Sunday that they had arrested an accomplice believed to be tied up in a string of thefts in D.C., Miami.
“The individual is considered to be a co-conspirator with a major defendant who is accused of being accused of robbing Christa Noem of the Department of Homeland Security,” a secret service spokesman shared in the statement.
“Public safety is strongest when it is built on trust and collaboration,” said Rafael Barros’ special agent. “We are grateful for the Miami Beach Police Department’s prompt and remarkable support for today’s anxiety. After receiving information from Washington, Miami Beach police officers immediately conducted a targeted patrol and found a defendant who was detained without incident.”
Suspects arrested on suspicion of theft of Christineome bag containing $3K: Report
The suspected accomplice’s identity has not been released, but officials said the suspect is currently in custody in immigrant detainees as the charges have been completed.
This comes hours after authorities announced the first arrest of illegal immigrants with extensive criminal history, believed to be tied up to theft.
“I shared a meal with my family at a restaurant in Washington, DC, and thank the Secret Service and our law enforcement partners for finding and arresting criminals who stole my bag on Easter Sunday.”
“This individual is a career criminal who has been illegally in our country for years,” Noem said.
The suspect was identified as 49-year-old Mario Bustamante Leiva, according to Washington, DC Metropolitan Police.
Authorities say in each trick, Leiba approached the victim as he ate at a restaurant, stole his wallet from behind his seat and fled the scene.
The detectives found video evidence of the theft, and they led them to identify the suspected suspect as Levia. He was arrested Saturday, charged with two counts of robbery and faces additional charges for the crime being investigated by the US Secret Service, officials said.
DHS Chief Kristi Noem reveals how her wallet was stolen in a restaurant: “Professionally completed”
Homeland Security Secretary Christie Noem will be seen in a meeting between President Donald Trump and El Salvador President Naive Buquere at the White House Oval Office on Monday, April 14th. (Ken Cedeno/Upi/Bloomberg Getty Images)
“Unfortunately, so many families in this country have been victims of crime. That’s why President Trump works to keep America safe every day and drive these criminals out of our streets,” Noem said.
Retired NYPD inspector and Fox News contributor Paul Mauro believes the theft has not been specifically targeted by NOEMs, but rather motivated by the luxury bag itself.
“This was not targeted, this is almost the bottom of the criminal food chain. They knew he had an accomplice, they just wanted to make money and get away with it,” explained Mauro. We are not talking about KGB here. ”
Kimmel Mocks DHS SEC KRISTI NOEM is “embarrassing” that she is a victim of a crime
On March 16, 2025, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Christie Noem is monitoring the vehicle during a vehicle scan during a tour of San Isidro Port in San Diego. (Alex Brandon/Pool via Reuters)
Gnome was with Easter at the Capital Burger in Washington, DC on Easter Sunday. The suspect grabbed a luxurious bag that included the driver’s license, passport, medicine, makeup bag, blank check, DHS badge, apartment key and Louis Vuitton Clemens wallet.
According to a complaint filed with local police, the bag was on the floor of her table when it was stolen.
Security footage filmed a white man in an N95 surgical mask, dark pants and a baseball cap Grab a bag Before leaving the restaurant.
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“In fact, it was sort of a shock because it was sitting by my feet. I actually felt my wallet and he hooked it with his legs, took it a few steps away and made it a drug, then dropped the coat on top of it and took it,” Noem told podcaster Vince Korean on “Vince Show.”
“I felt that, but I thought my grandson was kicking me in the foot. But it was done very professionally and this always happens to people and they live in a community where this is dangerous and I reaffirm why I am here,” she added.
Landon Mion and Stephen Sorace of Fox News Digital contributed to this report.
Stepheny Price is a writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business. She covers topics including missing persons, murder, national crime cases, illegal immigration and more. Story tips and ideas can be sent to stepheny.price@fox.com
