The person who stole Kristi Noem's purse is Mario Bustamante Leiva, a 49-year- old man who was charged with robbery, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft related to the theft. He stole her purse while she was dining with her family at a restaurant in Washington, D.C., on Easter Sunday, April 20, 2025. Surveillance footage showed him sitting near Noem, using his foot to drag the purse toward himself, then picking it up and concealing it under his jacket before leaving the restaurant. Bustamante Leiva was arrested at a motel in D.C. and is in federal custody. He admitted to stealing the purse but denied knowing Noem's identity. Authorities also arrested a suspected accomplice in South Florida