WASHINGTON D.C. – A brazen thief is facing federal charges after a string of purse snatchings targeting diners in the nation’s capital. Mario Bustamante Leiva, 49, a Chilean national confirmed to be in the U.S. illegally, was arrested Friday, April 26, 2025, and charged with wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and robbery.
The thefts occurred over a two-week period, starting April 12th at Nando’s restaurant on F Street, NW. A victim reported her purse stolen while she dined, followed by an unauthorized credit card transaction exceeding $500. Similar incidents unfolded at the Westin Hotel on 9th Street, NW, on April 17th, with over $400 in fraudulent charges, and at Capital Burger on 7th Street, NW, on April 20th, where the victim also lost cash and personal documents. Surveillance footage linked Bustamante Leiva to all three crimes, appearing to work with an accomplice – Suspect 2, who remains at large.
The case gained traction thanks to a collaborative effort between the U.S. Secret Service and the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). According to U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr., “Thanks to the efforts of the Secret Service working in concert with the Metropolitan Police Department, this alleged thief was quickly identified, arrested, and, with the deft management of the Assistant US Attorney, charged. He will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.” Secret Service Special Agent in Charge Matt McCool highlighted the investigative work, starting with “only a grainy security video of a masked offender.”
But the story doesn’t end with the thefts. In a bizarre twist, investigators discovered that on April 19th, Bustamante Leiva himself reported a robbery to Montgomery County, Maryland, police, claiming his own bag had been stolen while he slept on a bench. This attempt to muddy the waters clearly failed to derail the investigation. Law enforcement tracked Bustamante Leiva to his current location and took him into custody on April 26th.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has already lodged an immigration detainer against Bustamante Leiva, signaling potential deportation proceedings following the criminal case. McCool emphasized the multi-agency cooperation, including support from the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, and ICE. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Helfand is prosecuting the case.
The investigation is ongoing, with authorities still searching for Suspect 2. Anyone with information regarding these incidents is urged to contact the U.S. Secret Service or the Metropolitan Police Department. The complete complaint and statement of facts are available for review: bustamante_leivam_complaint_redacted.pdf and bustamante_leivam_statement_of_facts_final_redacted.pdf.
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Key Facts
- Agency: U.S. Secret Service
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Press Release
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