Tom Artiom Alexandrovich, 38, head of the Technological Defense Division at Israel’s National Cyber Directorate, was arrested in Las Vegas on suspicion of attempting to lure minors for sexual purposes, according to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD).
Details of the Arrest
Police said Alexandrovich was caught in a multi-agency sting targeting child sex predators and was charged with electronically soliciting sex from a minor.
He was booked into the Henderson Detention Center and later released on a $10,000 bail pending a court date.
The operation, organized by the Nevada Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and the FBI’s Child Exploitation Task Force, resulted in eight arrests.
The others arrested were:
- David Wonnacott-Yahnke, 40
- Jose Alberto Perez-Torres, 35
- Aniket Brajeshkumar Sadani, 23
- James Ramon Reddick, 23
- Ramon Manuel Parra Valenzuela, 29
- Neal Harrison Creecy, 46
- John Charles Duncan, 49.
Return to Israel
According to Ynet News, Alexandrovich was questioned, returned to his hotel, and flew back to Israel two days later.
Israeli officials downplayed the incident, calling it resolved quickly and stressing that it carried “no political implications.”
U.S. State Department Response
After speculation that the U.S. government may have intervened on Alexandrovich’s behalf, the State Department issued a statement rejecting those claims.
“The Department of State is aware that Tom Artiom Alexandrovich, an Israeli citizen, was arrested in Las Vegas and given a court date for charges related to soliciting sex electronically from a minor. He did not claim diplomatic immunity and was released by a state judge pending a court date. Any claims that the U.S. government intervened are false.”
Ongoing Case
Alexandrovich faces felony charges of Luring a Child with Computer for Sex Act. He is expected to return for a future hearing in Nevada.
