Illegal Immigrant Faces Deportation After Theft of Luxury Bag

Mario Bustamante-Leyva, a 49-year-old illegal immigrant, is likely to be deported following his guilty plea related to the theft of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s $4,000 Gucci bag.

His plea, entered on Friday, came after a series of burglaries in Washington, D.C., on April 12, 17, and 20. The incident in question occurred while Noem was dining with her family at Capital Burger on Easter, during which her bag, containing $3,000 in cash, was damaged.

Originally from Chile, Bustamante-Leyva faced charges of wire fraud, aiding and abetting, and first-degree theft as a part of a deal with the prosecutors, according to court records.

While he could technically be sentenced to decades in prison, the federal guidelines suggest a range of six months to 3.5 years when he appears in court on March 13. Additionally, there’s a potential maximum fine of $9,500, along with $3,174 in forfeiture and restitution that a judge may determine.

It is also worth noting that judges aren’t required to follow these guidelines strictly. They can impose lighter or heavier sentences based on their judgment.

Given Bustamante-Leyva’s illegal status in the country, he will likely face deportation post-sentence, as indicated in his plea deal. Federal authorities have reported that he has a considerable criminal history, with eight prior convictions and six prison sentences across Chile and the United Kingdom.

During a span of three days, Bustamante-Leyva is accused of stealing wallets from three different victims and subsequently using the stolen credit cards to pay for hotels, dining, and alcohol.

His co-defendant, Cristian Montesino-Sanzana, also entered a guilty plea on the same day for wire fraud and aiding and abetting charges related to an April 12 incident at Nando’s Restaurant in the Capitol, though he has not been implicated in the theft from Noem.

There’s reason to believe Bustamante-Leyva might have ties to a larger robbery operation on the East Coast. He was indicted in New York in March for allegedly stealing from a fanny pack at a Times Square store and charging $1,200 to a stolen credit card. His criminal history also includes the theft of $28,000 worth of electronics, wallets, and other items in London back in 2015.

After his arrest, D.C. Federal Judge Matthew Charbaugh decided to hold Bustamante-Leyva without bail, expressing concern over his extensive criminal background. This apprehension was heightened by Bustamante-Leyva’s request for an emergency passport from the Chilean consulate just days after the Washington robbery.

In 2021, Montesino-Sanzana was released into the U.S.; despite having been given a notice for immediate deportation.

Montesino-Sanzana’s attorney, Carmen Hernandez, emphasized that her client “admitted responsibility for the crime of April 12, 2025,” clarifying that Secretary Noem was not involved.

As of now, there has been no immediate response from Leyva-Bustamante’s counsel or the D.C. federal prosecutor’s office regarding the case.