In a series of events that reads like a crime drama but unfortunately is all too real for the victims, a Chilean national finds himself facing some serious charges. Mario Bustamante Leiva, 49, was arrested on a slew of charges including wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and robbery, according to U.S. authorities. Leiva who, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office, is presently in the country illegally, has allegedly been on a bit of a purse-snatching spree across some of D.C's fancier dining establishments.
Announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr. and officials from both the Secret Service and the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), the complaints against Leiva draw on incidents that span the month of April. It seems dining at restaurants was forever altered for three women, each victimized through Leiva's alleged actions. Hanging on the back of their chair, one woman's purse at Nando's restaurant joined the list of items gone missing. Over $500 were then charged to her credit cards in unauthorized transactions.
Reports to MPD on April 17 mention a similar scenario at the Westin Hotel, with a purloined purse and over $400 in credit card charges. And yet again, at Capital Burger, a diner's belongings that she placed at her feet, disappeared into the anarchy of theft. The charges on her credit card later amounted to more than $200. Major credit card companies could not be reached for comments on the security of their cards in light of these incidents.
Video evidence appears to have played a pivotal role in Leiva's apprehension. Officials said the surveillance footage shed light on not just Leiva, but a possible accomplice working in concert with him, acting as Suspect 2. Contained inside the purses were not just credit cards, but cash and personal documents, now drifting in a limbo of legal identification and financial security. While Bustamante Leiva appeared in Superior Court on unrelated charges, ICE has placed an immigration detainer on him, adding a layer of complexity to his legal journey ahead.
