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D.C. Pickpocket's Reign of Theft Ends; Deportation Looms
22 Apr
Summary
- Suspect arrested for fraud and theft, facing deportation from US.
- He used stolen credit cards for purchases minutes after theft.
- A purchased gift card helped investigators identify the suspect.
A Chilean national, 50-year-old Bustamante Leiva, is set to be deported following his conviction for wire fraud and theft in Washington D.C. Jeanine Pirro, the US attorney for the District of Columbia, stated that Leiva illegally entered the US with the intent to commit crimes against its citizens, and his criminal activities have now concluded.
Leiva pleaded guilty in November to three counts of wire fraud and one count of first-degree theft. Investigators were able to identify him as a suspect after he purchased a gift card using a stolen credit card. Authorities recovered the victim's stolen handbag from his motel room, which contained personal items including identification and an access badge.
Law enforcement sources revealed that Bustamante Leiva frequently used a coat draped over his arm to obscure his pickpocketing actions. He would then use the stolen credit cards for purchases within minutes of acquiring them. The Secret Service collaborated with local police in the investigation, particularly given that one of the victims, a cabinet official, had Secret Service protection at the time of the theft.
