A judge in Las Vegas has upheld the indictment against Israeli cybersecurity official Tom Alexandrovich, rejecting his request to dismiss the charges linked to a child sex sting operation. The ruling comes after Alexandrovich was arrested in August 2023 as part of a multi-agency effort aimed at apprehending suspected child sex predators in the Las Vegas area. His subsequent release and departure from the United States sparked significant controversy, with some critics alleging that the Israeli government intervened on his behalf. The U.S. State Department has denied these claims.
In a court appearance conducted via Zoom, Alexandrovich faced charges stemming from his alleged communications with an undercover FBI agent posing as a minor. The indictment, which was issued in October 2023, includes a count of luring children or mentally ill persons through technology for the purpose of engaging in sexual conduct. Defense attorney David Chesnoff argued that Alexandrovich’s life has been drastically affected by the police operation that was intended to lure him, asserting that the prosecution failed to provide the grand jury with all relevant information regarding the tactics used in the sting operation.
District Judge Tina Talim ruled against the motion for a writ of habeas corpus, stating that prosecutors had met the necessary standard of probable cause. She noted that evidence presented to the grand jury indicated that Alexandrovich continued his communications even after being informed that he was interacting with an individual who claimed to be 15 years old. “The chats…contained discussions about sexual conduct,” Judge Talim said, emphasizing that Alexandrovich made statements encouraging the supposed minor to leave her home.
Chesnoff has announced plans to appeal Judge Talim’s decision. He contended that Alexandrovich was misled and that he believed he was communicating with an adult, as Pure, the dating application used in the case, mandates age verification through government-issued identification. “They needed to upload a government-issued ID and pass age verification before they could communicate with Mr. Alexandrovich,” Chesnoff stated.
During the court proceedings, Chief Deputy District Attorney Jake Villani defended the prosecution’s actions, stating that the defense’s letter outlining potential issues was presented to the grand jury in an “unprecedented” manner. He clarified that while the letter included the rules of Pure, it was not the state’s responsibility to interpret the letter for jurors. Villani noted that both decoys used in the sting operation were presented to the grand jury, reinforcing the prosecution’s argument that Alexandrovich was aware of the minor’s age.
The court heard that Alexandrovich drove to the designated meeting location before his arrest. Although Chesnoff claimed that Alexandrovich was apprehended nearly a mile away from this site, Villani asserted that the evidence supports the prosecution’s case against him.
As the case continues, Alexandrovich faces significant personal and professional repercussions. His defense attorney mentioned that Alexandrovich is currently unemployed due to the legal proceedings, although the specifics of his employment status remain unclear. Despite Chesnoff’s assertion that forcing Alexandrovich to trial would be unjust, Judge Talim confirmed that the trial is scheduled for March 2025.
The outcome of this case will not only impact Alexandrovich’s future but may also have broader implications for discussions surrounding the use of technology in child protection operations and the legal standards governing such cases.
