Las Vegas Sting Leads to Not Guilty Plea by Israeli Government Cyber Executive

A senior Israeli cybersecurity official, Tom Artiom Alexandrovich, has pleaded not guilty in a U.S. state court to charges stemming from a two-week undercover operation in Nevada targeting online sexual predation of minors. The arrest took place in the Las Vegas Valley as part of a joint effort by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, the FBI’s Child Exploitation Task Force and other federal and local agencies.

Alexandrovich, who was in the region attending a cybersecurity event, is accused of using computer technology to attempt to lure a minor for a sexual act under Nevada law. Court records show he was booked into detention, posted bond of $10,000 and returned to Israel shortly thereafter.

Israeli officials have stated that the employee was questioned by U.S. authorities while in the country for professional reasons and returned as scheduled. They denied he had been formally arrested. Meanwhile U.S. authorities emphasize that Alexandrovich did not claim diplomatic immunity and that any suggestion of backing or intervention by the U.S. government is false.

His legal team has said Alexandrovich intends to vigorously defend himself and has requested access to federal evidence before his scheduled trial, set to begin by March. The case has drawn international attention given Alexandrovich’s government-linked role and the cross-border law-enforcement cooperation involved.

Source: Las Vegas Review-Journal (via Akiya Dillon)