Israeli Cybersecurity Official Arrested in Major Child Exploitation Sting

A high-ranking Israeli cybersecurity official, Tom Artiom Alexandrovich, was arrested in a sting operation aimed at combatting internet crimes against children. The operation, conducted by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD), resulted in the apprehension of eight individuals over a two-week period. This initiative was a collaborative effort involving the Nevada Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task force, the FBI’s Child Exploitation Task Force, and numerous local agencies, including the Henderson Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations.

Alexandrovich, aged 38, was taken into custody alongside seven other suspects: David Wonnacott-Yahnke, 40; 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 eight men now face felony charges of luring a child with a computer for a sex act.

Details of the Operation

At the time of his arrest, Alexandrovich was attending the Black Hat Briefings, a prominent cybersecurity conference held from August 2 to 7, 2025, at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. His LinkedIn profile, now removed, identified him as the executive director of the Israel Cyber Directorate, a government agency responsible for cybersecurity initiatives in Israel. Following his arrest, Alexandrovich was booked into the Henderson Detention Center.

Under Nevada law, the charges of luring a child with a computer for a sex act can result in a prison sentence ranging from one to ten years. The case has garnered significant attention, particularly as conflicting reports have emerged from US and Israeli officials regarding the nature of Alexandrovich’s involvement.

Conflicting Reports and Implications

While the LVMPD confirmed that all suspects were arrested and booked, the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office stated that Alexandrovich was merely questioned by American authorities and not arrested. “A state employee who traveled to the US for professional matters was questioned by American authorities during his stay. The employee, who does not hold a diplomatic visa, was not arrested and returned to Israel as scheduled,” the statement read.

Additionally, an Israeli news outlet, Ynet, reported that an employee of the Israel National Cyber Directorate had been questioned and subsequently returned to Israel. Contrarily, a report from The Guardian indicated that Alexandrovich was charged but later released and returned home.

This incident underscores the ongoing dangers children face online and highlights the critical need for international cooperation in addressing such offenses. Law enforcement agencies worldwide are actively working to protect children from exploitation, illustrating the importance of vigilance and collaboration in the digital age.