Israeli gov. official arrested in Nevada internet crimes against children sting
7 days ago
- #Israel
- #crime
- #cybersecurity
- Tom Artiom Alexandrovich, an Israeli government cybersecurity official, was arrested in Las Vegas for allegedly attempting to sexually prey on a child.
- Alexandrovich, 38, faces felony charges and was released on $10,000 bail, returning to Israel afterward.
- He was identified as the executive director of the Israel Cyber Directorate, a government agency under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office.
- Alexandrovich had attended the Black Hat Briefings cybersecurity conference in Las Vegas before his arrest.
- His LinkedIn page, which referenced the conference and cybersecurity trends, was later deleted.
- Israeli officials downplayed the incident, stating it had 'no political implications' and was resolved quickly.
- Alexandrovich was placed on leave from the Cyber Directorate by 'mutual decision'.
- Netanyahu’s office denied that Alexandrovich was arrested, claiming he was only questioned and returned to Israel as scheduled.
- The arrest was part of a sting operation by Nevada’s internet crime against children taskforce, which also nabbed seven other men, including a local pastor.
- Under Nevada law, the charges against Alexandrovich could carry a prison sentence of one to 10 years.