Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BUENOSAIRES126
2009-02-05 19:45:00
SECRET
Embassy Buenos Aires
Cable title:
ARGENTINA: FUGITIVE HACKER RETURNS TO ARGENTINA
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHBU #0126 0361945 ZNY SSSSS ZZH O 051945Z FEB 09 FM AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES TO RUEHMN/AMEMBASSY MONTEVIDEO IMMEDIATE 7249 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RHMCSUU/FBI WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2988 RHMFISS/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE INFO RUCNMER/MERCOSUR COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
S E C R E T BUENOS AIRES 000126
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/04/2029
TAGS: PTER SNAR ASEC KCOR KFRD UY AR
SUBJECT: ARGENTINA: FUGITIVE HACKER RETURNS TO ARGENTINA
AND THREATENS TO TELL ALL
Classified By: Ambassador E. Anthony Wayne for reasons 1.4
(b) & (d).
S E C R E T BUENOS AIRES 000126
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/04/2029
TAGS: PTER SNAR ASEC KCOR KFRD UY AR
SUBJECT: ARGENTINA: FUGITIVE HACKER RETURNS TO ARGENTINA
AND THREATENS TO TELL ALL
Classified By: Ambassador E. Anthony Wayne for reasons 1.4
(b) & (d).
1. (U) Fugitive Argentine government employee or contractor
Pablo Carpintero returned to Buenos Aires on February 3 and
is in the custody of the Argentine Coast Guard (Prefectura).
Carpintero and his fellow indictee, Ivan Velazquez, sought
political asylum in Uruguay in May 2008 claiming to be the
victims of an internal dispute in the Argentine State
Secretariat for Intelligence (SIDE). They were the primary
actors in a scandal regarding the hacking of the email
accounts of prominent GOA officials, journalists, opposition
politicians, Supreme Court judges, and show business
celebrities. Velazquez -- previously arrested and paroled
for a bribery charge for allegedly offering an Uruguayan
official money in exchange for information on some of his
Argentine accusers -- remains incarcerated in Uruguay under
accusation of stealing an Uruguayan police arms registration
database.
2. (U) According to "La Nacion," Carpintero and Velazquez
are threatening to reveal SIDE secrets, to reveal for whom
they worked (in their hacking activities) and to name who
ordered their clandestine (hacking) operation. The February
3 "La Nacion" article implied Carpintero would reveal this
information to federal Judge Arroyo Salgado, while Velazquez
was revealing his version by publishing his autobiography
chapter by chapter on the internet from his jail cell.
Arroyo Salgado reportedly planned to advise Uruguayan justice
officials of her intent to request the extradition of
Velazquez, although post understood that the GOA had already
requested his extradition from Uruguay.
3. (S) Comment: Post cautiously awaits Carpintero's version
of events and local media reaction. Given Carpintero's and
Velazquez's track record of erratic behavior and information
peddling, their credibility should be weak with both the
Argentine government and the public. Post is particularly
concerned that Velazquez, who is reportedly publishing a
serial memoir of his clandestine career online, and/or
Carpintero will attempt to drag USG agencies through the mud
in their fanciful accounting to judicial authorities or the
press. They could easily alter their original story of being
victims of a power struggle within SIDE to finger U.S.
intelligence or law enforcement as the puppeteer, especially
given their attempts to shop around their information here
and in Uruguay. The situation bears close attention and
public diplomacy preparedness.
WAYNE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/04/2029
TAGS: PTER SNAR ASEC KCOR KFRD UY AR
SUBJECT: ARGENTINA: FUGITIVE HACKER RETURNS TO ARGENTINA
AND THREATENS TO TELL ALL
Classified By: Ambassador E. Anthony Wayne for reasons 1.4
(b) & (d).
1. (U) Fugitive Argentine government employee or contractor
Pablo Carpintero returned to Buenos Aires on February 3 and
is in the custody of the Argentine Coast Guard (Prefectura).
Carpintero and his fellow indictee, Ivan Velazquez, sought
political asylum in Uruguay in May 2008 claiming to be the
victims of an internal dispute in the Argentine State
Secretariat for Intelligence (SIDE). They were the primary
actors in a scandal regarding the hacking of the email
accounts of prominent GOA officials, journalists, opposition
politicians, Supreme Court judges, and show business
celebrities. Velazquez -- previously arrested and paroled
for a bribery charge for allegedly offering an Uruguayan
official money in exchange for information on some of his
Argentine accusers -- remains incarcerated in Uruguay under
accusation of stealing an Uruguayan police arms registration
database.
2. (U) According to "La Nacion," Carpintero and Velazquez
are threatening to reveal SIDE secrets, to reveal for whom
they worked (in their hacking activities) and to name who
ordered their clandestine (hacking) operation. The February
3 "La Nacion" article implied Carpintero would reveal this
information to federal Judge Arroyo Salgado, while Velazquez
was revealing his version by publishing his autobiography
chapter by chapter on the internet from his jail cell.
Arroyo Salgado reportedly planned to advise Uruguayan justice
officials of her intent to request the extradition of
Velazquez, although post understood that the GOA had already
requested his extradition from Uruguay.
3. (S) Comment: Post cautiously awaits Carpintero's version
of events and local media reaction. Given Carpintero's and
Velazquez's track record of erratic behavior and information
peddling, their credibility should be weak with both the
Argentine government and the public. Post is particularly
concerned that Velazquez, who is reportedly publishing a
serial memoir of his clandestine career online, and/or
Carpintero will attempt to drag USG agencies through the mud
in their fanciful accounting to judicial authorities or the
press. They could easily alter their original story of being
victims of a power struggle within SIDE to finger U.S.
intelligence or law enforcement as the puppeteer, especially
given their attempts to shop around their information here
and in Uruguay. The situation bears close attention and
public diplomacy preparedness.
WAYNE