RE: Teens arrested in VA laptop theft

[Blanchard_Michael () emc com]

Thought this was funny....  the suspect's names were Jesus and Christian....  With names like those, you'd think that 
they know "Thou shalt not steal"!  ROFL    the only thing funnier would be if they were brothers :-)
 
 
 
Michael P. Blanchard 
Antivirus / Security Engineer, CISSP, GCIH, CCSA-NGX, MCSE
Office of Information Security & Risk Management 
EMC ² Corporation 
4400 Computer Dr. 
Westboro, MA 01580 
Office: (508)898-7102      
Cell:     (508)958-2780 
Pager:  (877)552-3945 
email:  Blanchard_Michael () EMC COM 
 

________________________________

From: funsec-bounces () linuxbox org [mailto:funsec-bounces () linuxbox org] On Behalf Of Richard M. Smith
Sent: Monday, August 07, 2006 10:15 AM
To: funsec () linuxbox org
Subject: [funsec] Teens arrested in VA laptop theft


http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/08/05/laptop.arrests.ap/index.html

Teens arrested in VA laptop theft


Lawmaker: Agency 'must move forward' with reforming security 


Saturday, August 5, 2006; Posted: 7:02 p.m. EDT (23:02 GMT) 

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Two teenagers were arrested Saturday in the theft of a laptop and hard drive containing sensitive 
data on up to 26.5 million veterans and military personnel, authorities said.

The government-owned equipment was stolen May 3 during a burglary at the Maryland home of a Veterans Affairs employee. 
The laptop and hard drive were turned into the FBI on June 28 by an unidentified person in response to a $50,000 reward 
offer.

The equipment contained the names, Social Security numbers and birth dates of veterans discharged since 1975, in what 
was the worst-ever breach of government data.

Jesus Alex Pineda, 19, and Christian Brian Montano, 19, both of Rockville, Maryland, were arrested early Saturday, 
Montgomery County police said.

Pineda was charged with first-degree burglary and theft over $500. Montano was charged with first-degree burglary, 
conspiracy to commit first-degree burglary, theft over $500, and conspiracy to commit theft over $500.

Police said charges were pending against a third male suspect who is a juvenile.

"I commend the FBI, Montgomery County Police, VA's Office of Inspector General and other law enforcement agencies for 
their professionalism and diligence throughout this investigation," Secretary of Veterans Affairs R. James Nicholson 
said in a statement. "Today's announcement that arrests have been made is good news."

Authorities said the suspects did not specifically target the VA employee's home in Aspen Hill, Maryland, and did not 
realize the hard drive contained veterans' information until the case was publicized.

Police did not have any information about attorneys for the suspects. A bond hearing could be held Monday at the 
earliest, officials said.

The VA announced last month that the FBI has determined with a high degree of confidence that the files were not 
compromised.

"While this arrest is good news, we were lucky that the data belonging to veterans was not accessed and misused," Steve 
Buyer, chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, said in a statement.

"The vulnerability is real and with the help of Congress, VA must move forward with information security reform," said 
Buyer, R-Indiana.

Congress is investigating the steps leading up to and after the theft. It also is pondering legislation to improve 
information security.

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