Trump administration criticized for enabling departure of Israeli official, arrested in Las Vegas for involvement in a child sex sting operation
In August 2025, a shocking arrest made headlines in the United States. Tom Artiom Alexandrovich, a senior Israeli cybersecurity official, was taken into custody in Las Vegas during a sting operation targeting child sex predators. Alexandrovich was charged with felony cyber-luring of a minor.
Despite the gravity of the charge, Alexandrovich was released the following day on a $10,000 bond without appearing before a judge. He swiftly returned to Israel, raising questions about the circumstances surrounding his release and ability to leave the country[1][2].
The reasons for Alexandrovich's release have been a subject of debate. The Clark County District Attorney described the handling of the case as "standard," while the U.S. State Department denied any government intervention that would have allowed his release[2]. However, Acting U.S. Attorney Sigal Chattah publicly stated that Alexandrovich's passport should have been confiscated to prevent him from fleeing, calling for his immediate return to face justice[2][3].
The FBI, the Henderson Police Department, the North Las Vegas Police, and the Department of Homeland Security were credited with organizing the undercover operation that led to Alexandrovich's arrest. It was reported that he allegedly used an app called Pure to speak online with a decoy pretending to be a 15-year-old girl[1].
Alexandrovich is due back in court on August 27. The Nevada District Attorney's office is handling the prosecution of his case at the county level. Meanwhile, Alexandrovich's office in Israel has denied his arrest, stating only that a 'state employee' was questioned by American authorities during his stay and had returned to Israel as scheduled[1].
The incident has sparked criticism from various quarters. Acting U.S. Attorney Sigal Chattah, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and FBI Director were reported to be "outraged" by the situation[2][3]. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a GOP Representative, also criticized the State Department for allowing an Israeli official to leave the country after his arrest[4].
In a related development, Greene called on the U.S. to bring in children from Gaza who need life-saving medical treatment[5]. As the case unfolds, it remains to be seen how the U.S. authorities will address the issue of Alexandrovich's release and his eventual return to face the charges.
[1] Las Vegas Review-Journal [2] Associated Press [3] CNN [4] The Hill [5] Fox News
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