An Israeli cybersecurity official was arrested in the United States on Friday as part of a child sex sting operation in Las Vegas, but was promptly released and allowed to return to Israel.
According to Las Vegas police, the operation, conducted in cooperation with the FBI, led to the arrest of eight individuals suspected of attempting to sexually exploit minors online. Among those detained was 38-year-old Tom Artiom Alexandrovich, a senior official at the Cyber Directorate of Israel’s Prime Minister’s Office. All suspects were charged with attempting to entice minors to commit sexual acts, indicating the sting involved law enforcement officers posing as children online.
Despite the serious nature of the charges, Alexandrovich was released shortly after his detention and allowed to leave the country. The Cyber Directorate issued a statement noting that Alexandrovich “was questioned by the U.S. authorities on matters unrelated to his work” and returned to Israel as planned. The statement added, “The directorate has not received additional details through authorized channels to date. Should such details be received, the directorate will act accordingly. At this stage, by joint decision, the employee has gone on leave to address the matter until further clarity is obtained.”
The circumstances of Alexandrovich’s release have raised questions in the United States. Typically, foreign nationals arrested for attempting to meet minors online face strict legal consequences, including being denied bail and appearing before a judge. Alexandrovich was not in the U.S. on a diplomatic visa, which would have granted him immunity, adding further uncertainty about the decision to release him.
Historically, Israel has refused to extradite its citizens accused of sexual crimes against minors, including those who are Jewish or Israeli, allowing some accused pedophiles to return to Israel without facing prosecution in the United States. Legal analysts say this precedent, combined with Alexandrovich’s high-level government position, may explain his immediate release, though no official justification has been provided.
The Las Vegas police and FBI have not offered additional comment, leaving questions about the case and the rationale for Alexandrovich’s release unanswered.