Posted on 08/05/2006 5:10:24 PM PDT by Ben Mugged
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 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, Md., 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.
(Excerpt) Read more at story.news.ask.com ...
Veteran's
Jesus and Christian
hmmm
Helen Thomas's bloomers would be the better punishment.
You can ask the admin mod to fix your title. Since I'm a veterAn I would appreciate it. Thanks.
Good grief, the title implies that this was a childish prank. They're 19 , they're men.
No kidding! They're old enough to actually be veterans themselves!
Fine upstanding young Irishmen, I see.
Is it racist to ask if they were born here, or are here legally? Yeah, probably.
No, Veterans'. They stole data concerning lots of veterans, not the datum of a single veteran, so it's plural possessive.
I wouldn't pay out that reward to quickly.
Yeah, just think if it was Bill and Ted!!!
Someone had to get arrested.
Sure hope it's true that the information was not accessed.
Usually young people (adults) are treated like children in the preaching and demagoguery they endure, when they haven't done anything wrong.
In cases like this, their crime gets downplayed. If you are under 30, you are really screwed both ways with no chance to prove yourself, and no freedom to fly.
That is rightly why grumpy old people are ignored.
I am wagering they are illegal aliens, and I won't apologize for assuming it here on FR. These Latino youngsters are from an area of Maryland TEAMING with illegal aliens and illegal alien day labor centers--and increasing in crime.
you beat me to it.
...The Bush administration then withdrew an offer of free credit monitoring for a year to the millions of affected veterans and military personnel, a service that would have cost about $160 million.
...Key information that led to Friday's arrests came from a phone tip received by the FBI in the past few days, Manger said.
The three are suspected in at least five other burglaries, police said, and two of them have criminal records.
... Despite recovery of the equipment, the recent arrests were "absolutely critical," said Jim O'Neill, assistant inspector general for the VA.
This incident created quite a stir with serious repercussions for several at the VA: Seattle Times: 2 Charged in May Theft of VA Laptop
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