Nevada officials are facing heavy criticism after a state court allowed an Israeli official accused of attempting to lure a minor online to leave the United States without surrendering his passport, as reported by The Gateway Pundit.
According to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD), Tom Artiom Alexandrovich, 38, head of the Technological Defense Division at Israel’s National Cyber Directorate, was arrested in Las Vegas during a multi-agency operation targeting child predators.
Tom Artiom Alexandrovich, the Acting Head of Data & AI at Israel’s National Cyber Directorate, was arrested in Nevada in a federal child predation sting operation, but escaped the law by returning to Israel.
He was one of eight people arrested on charges of luring a child with a… pic.twitter.com/LHQCWqpMs1
— AF Post (@AFpost) August 18, 2025
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Authorities said he was caught attempting to solicit sex electronically from a minor.
He was booked into the Henderson Detention Center and released on $10,000 bail. State court records show the judge did not require Alexandrovich to turn over his passport, allowing him to board a flight and return to Israel two days later.
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The Nevada Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force confirmed the operation involved LVMPD, the FBI’s Child Exploitation Task Force, Homeland Security Investigations, Henderson Police, North Las Vegas Police, and the Nevada Attorney General’s Office.
In total, eight individuals were arrested and charged with felony counts of luring a child with a computer for sexual acts. The suspects included:
David Wonnacott-Yahnke, 40
Tom Artiom Alexandrovich, 38
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
Ynet News reported that Alexandrovich returned to his hotel after questioning and then flew back to Israel. Israeli officials downplayed the incident, claiming it had “no political implications.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office released a statement denying Alexandrovich had been arrested, saying he was only “questioned by American authorities” and returned to Israel as scheduled.
The U.S. State Department disputed suggestions that the federal government intervened.
“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,” the department said.
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…
— U.S. State Dept – Near Eastern Affairs (@StateDept_NEA) August 18, 2025
Nevada Attorney General Sigal Chattah said U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi was furious over the case, blaming state authorities for mishandling Alexandrovich’s release.
“A liberal district attorney and state court judge in Nevada FAILED TO REQUIRE AN ALLEGED CHILD MOLESTER TO SURRENDER HIS PASSPORT, which allowed him to flee our country,” Chattah said.
“The Attorney General [Pam Bondi] just called me outraged and she also called the [FBI Director Kash Patel]. The individual who fled our country should have had his passport seized by the state authorities. He must be returned immediately to face justice.”
A liberal district attorney and state court judge in Nevada FAILED TO REQUIRE AN ALLEGED CHILD MOLESTER TO SURRENDER HIS PASSPORT, which allowed him to flee our country. The Attorney General @AGPamBondi just called me outraged and she also called the @FBIDirectorKash . The…
— US Attorney Chattah (@USAttyChattah) August 19, 2025
Federal officials have not said whether the United States will seek Alexandrovich’s extradition.
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