2 days ago
Las Vegas police arrest 'Israeli' cybersecurity official in pedophilia investigation
An 'Israeli' cybersecurity executive has been arrested in the United States on suspicion of involvement in online child exploitation, according to reports in 'Israel' and Nevada.
Yedioth Ahronoth, an 'Israeli' news outlet, identified the official as 38-year-old Tom Alexandrovich, a senior figure within the Israel National Cyber Directorate (INCD). He was taken into custody by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department while attending an international cyber conference on behalf of the directorate last week.
Police in Las Vegas said Alexandrovich was one of eight individuals arrested in a recent sting operation. 'A multi-agency operation targeting child sex predators [which] led to the arrest of eight individuals over the past two weeks,' the department confirmed in a statement. Authorities added that the suspects 'face felony charges of Luring a Child with Computer for Sex Act.'
Court filings cited by Yedioth Ahronoth allege that Alexandrovich attempted to 'seduce a mentally ill child using computer technology to have sex.' He appeared before a judge in Nevada and was later released on USD 10,000 bail.
The cyber directorate, which operates under the 'Israeli' Prime Minister's Office, initially downplayed the incident, saying, 'The employee informed the Directorate that during his trip to the United States he was questioned by the US authorities on matters not related to work matters, and returned to Israel on the scheduled date of return. The Directorate has not yet received additional details through the authorised channels. If it receives, the Directorate will act accordingly. At this stage, in a joint decision, the employee went on leave to deal with the matter until things will become clear.'
However, Las Vegas police records contradict this version, confirming that Alexandrovich had indeed been arrested. The INCD later clarified that it had 'not been involved in any matter related to the bail.'
In 'Israel', police declined to confirm whether they would investigate upon Alexandrovich's return. 'As a rule, any complaint or information that raises suspicion of committing a criminal offence is examined by the police, and where there is a reasonable basis for suspicion that a criminal offence has been committed, an investigation is opened in accordance with each case and its circumstances,' a spokesperson said.
The arrest comes amid growing scrutiny of senior 'Israeli' officials. Just weeks earlier, 'Israel's' ambassador to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Yossi Shelley, was recalled after Emirati officials accused him of inappropriate conduct. Shelley, a close ally of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, was alleged to have made repeated comments about prostitutes and to have engaged in behavior that Emirati authorities deemed unacceptable.
A senior 'Israeli' diplomat told Channel 12 that Shelley frequently discussed sex workers with colleagues and once clashed with security staff in Abu Dhabi. 'The subject he talks about all the time in an exaggerated way is prostitutes,' the official said. 'That's what he tells everyone about, that's what he likes to talk about the most.'
According to the report, Shelley visited 'dubious places' during his posting and reacted angrily when local officials attempted to intervene, allegedly shouting at security guards, 'You won't lock me up.'
