A senior Israeli official charged with soliciting a minor for sex will be allowed to appear remotely for his upcoming court hearing in the United States, despite leaving the country shortly after posting bail.
Tom Artiom Alexandrovich, Executive Director of the Cyber Defense Division at the Israel National Cyber Directorate (INCD), was arrested on August 6 in Las Vegas, Nevada, during a joint city-federal sting operation that led to the detention of five other suspects. According to law enforcement, Alexandrovich allegedly engaged in explicit communications with an undercover officer posing as a 14-year-old girl and arranged a meeting for sexual activity. Police stated he was carrying a condom at the time of his arrest.
Despite the seriousness of the charges and his status as a foreign national, Alexandrovich was granted release on a $10,000 bail, had his passport returned, and promptly departed for Israel.
He failed to appear at his scheduled arraignment on Wednesday. His attorney, David Chesnoff, claimed that an agreement with prosecutors allowed Alexandrovich to skip the appearance. However, Judge Barbara Schifalacqua denied this assertion, stating that the district attorney lacked the authority to waive such court obligations. The judge ordered Alexandrovich to attend his arraignment remotely on September 3, 2025.
The case has generated significant controversy, particularly regarding the conditions of Alexandrovich’s release. Acting U.S. Attorney for Nevada, Sigal Chattah—an Israeli-born appointee of former President Donald Trump—announced that her office would not pursue federal prosecution, leaving the matter to the Clark County District Attorney’s Office at the state level.
This decision has sparked backlash among Trump supporters, citing federal involvement in the sting operation. Chattah also faced criticism for the handling of Alexandrovich’s bail and the decision to return his passport, though she attributed these actions to local judicial authorities. Shortly after the controversy escalated, Chattah deleted her profile on X, a move widely seen as an attempt to obscure her previous pro-Israel social media activity.