Homeland Safety Secretary Kristi Noem stated she’s “very confident” that the 2 folks arrested in reference to the theft of her purse are within the nation illegally.
“These are career criminals,” Noem informed CBS Information in an interview on the U.S.-Mexico border on Monday. “They have perpetuated crimes against many people in this country for many years illegally.”
Noem’s purse was stolen April 20 when she was at a restaurant in Washington, D.C., along with her household. She stated the bag was sitting between her ft when it was taken.
Noem stated she doesn’t imagine she was focused and it was only a coincidence that her purse was taken.
“But he was professional in how he took it,” she stated. “So, you know, this is what Americans shouldn’t have to live with. It’s not about me and it’s not about my family, as much as it is about, you know, that people live in communities that have been going through this for many, many years. So the more that we can bring these people in and have them face consequences and get them out of our country, the safer America will be.”
Mario Bustamante Leiva, 49, was arrested in Washington, D.C., on Saturday and has been charged with wire fraud, id theft and theft in reference to three purse snatchings this month, the Division of Justice stated Monday. The division alleged Leiva, a Chilean nationwide, was within the U.S. illegally.
The Secret Service confirmed a second suspect, Cristian Rodrigo Montecino-Sanzana, 51, was arrested at a Walgreens in South Seashore. Immigration and Customs Enforcement lodged immigration detainers for each suspects.
Neither suspect had an legal professional listed within the D.C. federal court docket database.
Noem’s bag contained a variety of delicate private gadgets, together with her driver’s license, passport, DHS entry badge, checks and roughly $3,000 in money, three legislation enforcement sources beforehand informed CBS Information. Noem’s cellphone was not in her bag, however bank cards, make-up and drugs have been among the many gadgets stolen.
The Justice Division alleged the suspects charged greater than $200 to Noem’s bank card.
Watch extra of Tony Dokoupil’s interview with Homeland Safety Secretary Kristi Noem on Wednesday on “CBS Mornings.”
contributed to this report.
