In a major online child-predator sting near Las Vegas in US state of Nevada, Israeli government cybersecurity official Tom Artiom Alexandrovich was arrested, charged with 'luring a child with a computer for a sex act', released on $10,000 bail and allowed to fly home to Israel, where he is now on leave 'by mutual decision', according to Israeli media and US police records.
What The Nevada Sting Found
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) said eight men were arrested during a two-week Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) operation in Henderson, Nevada.
Those named by police were 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; and John Charles Duncan, 49. All face the exact felony count; seven were booked at Henderson Detention Centre and Duncan at Clark County Detention Centre.
In a press release by LVMPD, the authorities said: 'We would like to remind parents to discuss with their children the dangers of engaging with strangers online. Parents are encouraged to routinely monitor their children's activity on social media and other online applications to prevent them from becoming victims of a child sex predator.'
These arrests were made by the Nevada Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) joint operation that brought together detectives and agents from the ICAC Task Force and the FBI's Child Exploitation Task Force.
Participating agencies in this sting operation included the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the North Las Vegas Police Department, the Henderson Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Nevada Attorney General's Office.
Who Is Tom Alexandrovich?
Tom Alexandrovich, age 39, is described as the executive director of the Israel Cyber Directorate, a government body operating under the authority of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office. Additional online sources also identify Alexandrovich as holding this role. All of this information was available on LinkedIn before it was subsequently taken down.
Mediate reported that Tom was in Las Vegas earlier in August to attend the Black Hat Briefings, an annual conference for cybersecurity experts.
NEW: Top Israeli cybersecurity official arrested in Nevada for allegedly luring a child with a computer for a s*x act, has since been released & is back in Israel, according to Mediaite.
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) August 16, 2025
Tom Artiom Alexandrovich is accused of seeking to prey on children.
Israel is completely… pic.twitter.com/km4A3yKAGO
'Two things you can't escape at Black Hat 2025: the relentless buzz of generative [artificial intelligence] and the sound of Hebrew ... in every corridor,' he shared on a now-deleted LinkedIn post.
Tom also added, 'The key takeaway? The future of cybersecurity is being written in code, and it seems a significant part of it is being authored in #TelAviv and powered by LLMs. An exciting time to be in the field!'
How Israeli Authorities Are Reacting
In a report by Israeli media outlet Ynet, it noted Tom's arrest, though not naming him explicitly, stating that US authorities had detained 'an employee of the Israel National Cyber Directorate' for questioning while he was attending a professional conference on behalf of Israel. Following the interrogation, the individual went back to his hotel and departed for Israel two days later.
'A state employee who travelled to the US for professional matters was questioned by American authorities during his stay,' the statement read from the Prime Minister's Office. 'The employee, who does not hold a diplomatic visa, was not arrested and returned to Israel as scheduled.'
I think there's a good chance that this is Tom Artiom Alexandrovich:https://t.co/QcWx8VAavp
— ICUlUↃI (@icu_luci) August 15, 2025
Notice his last post made six days ago--it mentions Black Hat 2025. Where was that held? Mandalay Bay, in Las Vegas:https://t.co/GPE0QkcaK0 pic.twitter.com/it73fkthhj
Ynet previously reported that Tom had gone on leave from the Cyber Directorate following a 'mutual decision.' The outlet also noted that the Cyber Directorate maintained its earlier statements about Alexandrovich were 'accurate,' relying on the information the agency had received at the time.
Reports and records show that he has been released on $10,000 (£7,396.85) bail after an initial court appearance in Israel.
History of Israelis Tried on Pedophilia Cases
Elad Gaber, an Israeli national, was sentenced in October 2021 to 30 years (360 months) in federal prison after being convicted of operating a systematic sextortion scheme. He lured dozens of underage girls—some as young as 12—via social media, obtaining compromising images and threatening to share them publicly unless they complied with his scripted demands for explicit video performances.
Meanwhile, a previous CBS News investigation showed how some Jewish Americans accused of child sexual abuse have taken advantage of Israel's Law of Return—which grants automatic citizenship to Jews—to evade prosecution in the US. The report also drew upon data from Jewish Community Watch (JCW), an advocacy group that tracks such individuals, revealing that more than 60 Americans accused of sexual offences against minors have fled to Israel since 2014, with the actual number likely higher.
These cases highlight the growing challenges of combating online child exploitation when offenders cross international borders. While US authorities have secured convictions in some instances, the ability of alleged perpetrators to resettle in Israel under the Law of Return complicates efforts to deliver justice for victims.
Ultimately, the pursuit of justice depends on closing these gaps so survivors are protected and offenders are held fully responsible for their crimes.
What Happens Next
Under Nevada law, luring a child with a computer carries 1–10 years in prison if convicted. US authorities said the suspects believed they were meeting minors when confronted by undercover officers. Alexandrovich has returned to Israel; as of publication, no separate Israeli charges have been announced, and the INCD says it will act on any official updates it receives.
Why It Matters
The case is extraordinary because it involves a senior cybersecurity official—someone charged with defending national systems—now under US felony accusation. It raises immediate questions about cross-border cooperation, bail and travel decisions, and transparency when national-security officials face serious allegations abroad.
What's at Stake
This incident underscores the persistence of online child exploitation threats—even among cybersecurity professionals.
It highlights the importance of unwavering international cooperation, transparency from authorities, and rigorous enforcement of laws to protect vulnerable populations.
