Law enforcement officials said Sunday that the suspect was arrested for theft of the wallet of Homeland Security Secretary Christie Noem at a restaurant in downtown Washington, D.C.
The wallet included several key items, including $3,000 in cash, NOEM DHS access badges, passport, driver’s license, blank checks and keys. The theft happened while Noem was celebrating Easter with his family.
“We would like to thank Secret Service and Ice and our law enforcement partners for finding and arresting criminals who stole bags on Easter Sunday when they shared meals with their families at a restaurant in Washington, D.C.,” Noem said in a statement provided to the hill via a spokesman on Sunday.
Law enforcement officials did not identify the suspect by name, but accused him of being a repeat offender who illegally moved to the United States several years ago.
“This individual is a career criminal who has been illegally in our country for years,” Noem continued in a statement.
“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 city,” she said.
Matt McCool, a special agent at the U.S. Secret Service Washington Field Office, said in a statement that the individual was “detained without incident” in DC, following a “intensive investigation” conducted in collaboration with local and federal law enforcement agencies.
McCool called the defendant a “serial criminal” and said there was no indication that Noem was targeted because of his status as a DHS secretary.
“We determined that this incident had no protective Nexus for our role as Secretary Noam or Secretary of Homeland Security. The investigation revealed alleged criminal activity, including potential devices and credit card fraud,” added McCool.
Oka reached out to the Metropolitan Police Station for comment.
