Serial thief sentenced to three years for stealing Kristi Noem's handbag
Mario Bustamante Leiva, a serial thief, has been sentenced to three years in prison for stealing a handbag belonging to former Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.The theft occurred last April while Noem was dining with her family at a restaurant in Washington DC.The handbag contained $3,000 in cash as well as personal items including Noem's driver's licence, passport, and DHS access badge.Authorities recovered the bag from Bustamante Leiva's motel room.Bustamante Leiva, a 50-year-old native of Chile, pleaded guilty in November to three counts of wire fraud and one count of first-degree theft.Following his prison sentence, he faces deportation.Officials... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 22 Apr 2026 21:03 LONDON
Moldovan oligarch Vlad Plahotniuc jailed for 19 years in $1bn banking fraud
Vlad Plahotniuc, once Moldova's richest man, has been sentenced to 19 years in jail for his role in a major banking fraud case known locally as the "theft of the century".The fraud involved the siphoning of $1 billion from Moldovan banks during 2014-15, equivalent to about 12% of Moldova's GDP at the time.Plahotniuc was found guilty of receiving over $40 million from the scheme and was ordered to pay approximately $60 million in damages to the state.Plahotniuc was not present in court for the sentencing, and his lawyer has stated that he plans to appeal the verdict.Prosecutors said he used... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 22 Apr 2026 18:31 LONDON
Chilean National Sentenced to 36 Months for Theft of Kristi Noem's Gucci Handbag
Mario Bustamante Leiva, a 50-year-old Chilean national unlawfully residing in the United States, has been sentenced to 36 months imprisonment by the U.S. The sentence follows his conviction related to a series of thefts. Among the charges, Bustamante Leiva was found guilty of stealing a Gucci handbag belonging to former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi L. The theft occurred while Noem was dining with her family at a restaurant within the District of Columbia. This case highlights the prosecution of crimes committed by individuals residing illegally in the United States. Bustamante Leiva's sentencing serves as a consequence for wire fraud and... [Continue Reading]
Breaking-360LiveNews | 22 Apr 2026 17:33 LONDON
Kentucky Woman Sentenced to 42 Months Federal Prison for Identity Theft and Bank Fraud in Jacksonville
Abigail Payton, a 30-year-old woman from Kentucky, received a federal prison sentence of 42 months for committing aggravated identity theft and bank fraud. The sentencing was conducted by Chief U.S. District Judge Marcia Morales Howard in Jacksonville, Florida. Payton entered a guilty plea on November 13, 2025, admitting to the charges of identity theft and bank fraud. The court's ruling imposes a custodial sentence reflecting the severity of the federal offenses committed. The case demonstrates enforcement of federal laws targeting identity theft and financial crimes within the jurisdiction of the Jacksonville federal court. The judgment serves as a legal consequence... [Continue Reading]
Breaking-360LiveNews | 21 Apr 2026 22:32 LONDON
Surge in petrol thefts in UK linked to Iran war fuel price rise
Petrol thefts in the United Kingdom have surged by 62% compared to last year, according to new data from a fuel theft recovery company.Retailers report that drive-offs are now costing thousands of pounds weekly across multiple sites.One petrol retailer operating five garages in southern England reported experiencing about five drive-offs per week at each location, up from one or two previously.CCTV footage shared with the media shows incidents occurring throughout the day, involving various vehicles including motorbikes, vans, and SUVs.The increase in thefts coincides with a significant rise in fuel prices, attributed to the ongoing US-Israel war with Iran.Since the... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 21 Apr 2026 04:02 LONDON
Iran Closes Strait of Hormuz Again Amid US Blockade Tensions
Iran has once again closed the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global oil shipping route, in response to the United States' ongoing blockade of its ports.This closure follows a brief reopening of the waterway after a US-mediated ceasefire in the Middle East.Tehran announced that control of the strait has "returned to its previous state," with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) stating that the waterway will remain tightly controlled until the US lifts its blockade.The IRGC described the blockade as "acts of piracy and maritime theft." Reports indicate that Iranian gunboats fired on a tanker attempting to transit the strait.The... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 18 Apr 2026 15:33 LONDON
British man pleads guilty to $8 million virtual currency theft conspiracy
A British man has pleaded guilty to conspiring to hack the computers of multiple companies and steal at least $8 million in virtual currency from individuals in the United States.Tyler Buchanan, 24, from Dundee, admitted to participating in a scheme involving SMS phishing attacks targeting employees of various organisations.The US Department of Justice (DOJ) confirmed that Buchanan and his co-conspirators sent hundreds of phishing messages to employees of entertainment, telecommunications, technology, and virtual currency companies between September 2021 and April 2023.These messages tricked recipients into revealing confidential login credentials.Using the stolen information, the group accessed accounts and stole confidential company... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 18 Apr 2026 07:00 LONDON
