A second suspect has been arrested in Miami Beach in connection with the high-profile theft of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s purse, which occurred on Easter Sunday at a restaurant in Washington, D.C. Authorities say the bag contained Noem’s ID, DHS badge, passport, and roughly $3,000 in cash.
The newly arrested suspect, Cristian Rodrigo Montecino-Sanzana, 51, was found inside a Walgreens on Collins Avenue this past Sunday. According to the police report, he was carrying a fake California ID and now faces charges related to possession of a forged driver’s license.
The main suspect in the robbery, Mario Bustamante Leiva, was previously arrested and charged with two counts of robbery. Officials believe Montecino-Sanzana may be linked to an ongoing pattern of thefts involving Bustamante.
Both men are Chilean nationals and, according to the U.S. Attorney for D.C., are in the country illegally. Montecino-Sanzana is currently being held on an ICE detainer at a Miami-Dade County jail and may be transferred into federal immigration custody.
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