


A senior official in Israel’s National Cyber Directorate was detained and questioned last week in Las Vegas on suspicion of attempting to lure minors to meet for sexual purposes, according to local police and Hebrew media reports.
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department identified the official as Tom Artiom Alexandrovich, 39.
According to Hebrew reports, Alexandrovich is a division head in the Cyber Directorate and was in Las Vegas for a conference in a professional capacity at the time of his arrest.
According to police, the man was arrested along with seven others during a sting operation targeting online predators.
All eight suspects “face felony charges of luring a child with [a] computer for [a] sex act,” police said, adding that Alexandrovich was booked at the Henderson Detention Center.
Police said that the suspects were released after being questioned, but added that indictments were expected to be filed against them.
According to Hebrew media reports, Alexandrovich returned to Israel after his release and was not arrested upon arrival.
The Cyber Directorate said the official reported that he was detained while in the US for matters “unrelated to work,” and that it was agreed he would be placed on leave until the matter was clarified.
The directorate added that it “had not yet received official details from US authorities,” and that “if and when such details are received, the directorate will act accordingly.”
The Cyber Directorate is in charge of cyber defense in Israel’s civilian sphere, including critical national infrastructure, and operates under the Prime Minister’s Office.