Blackberrys stolen during Mexican – American Conference
How dumb can someone be? A Mexican press agent attending a New Orleans conference between the Mexican delegation and President Bush, stuffed his pockets with six or seven Blackberrys belonging to White House personnel and other American officials. He was on his way to the airport before the theft was discovered and he was ordered to return.
Everyone attending the meeting had to leave their Blackberrys, smartphones and other gadgets on a table outside of the meeting room. This is common practice apparently for high level political meetings. So everyone placed their small electronic equipment on the table outside the meeting room without anyone stationed outside to watch over all of the expensive gadgets potentially containing classified information.
Rafael Quintero Curiel, who worked for the Mexican Delegation, providing logistics and shepherding the Mexican media around during the conference, decided to help himself to six or seven of the unattended Blackberrys. Why he only chose Blackberrys and no other smartphones or gadgets on display is unknown.
Mr. Curiel departed the conference early and was on his way to the airport, when several American officials realized their Blackberrys were missing. The Secret Service reviewed surveillance video tapes and saw Curiel placing the Blackberrys in his pockets.
Mr. Curiel denied the accusations at first until he was confronted with the video tapes at which time he claimed diplomatic immunity said his pilfering of the devices was an accident. He left the conference with the Mexican Delegation. Once he landed in Mexico City, he was asked for his resignation.
The Mexican Delegation, understandably embarrassed by Curiel’s theft, have said that Curiel would be cooperating with the American investigation into the incident
It is difficult to tell who was more inept. The American authorities who provided very little protection for the Blackberrys and other gadgets clearly left on display or Mr. Curiel, who thought he could just pocket multiple Blackberrys belonging to American officials and not get caught.
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