A judge in Las Vegas has dismissed a motion by Israeli cybersecurity official Tom Alexandrovich to throw out his indictment related to a child sex sting operation. The ruling came on Monday, following Alexandrovich’s arrest in August during a coordinated effort to apprehend suspected child sex predators in the area.
The case has sparked significant controversy, particularly concerning Alexandrovich’s swift release after his arrest and subsequent departure from the United States. Critics have accused the Israeli government of intervening on his behalf, a claim that the U.S. State Department has denied. Tensions between federal and state prosecutors were evident, reflecting the high stakes involved in the case.
Appearing via Zoom, Alexandrovich was indicted in October on charges of luring children or mentally ill persons using technology for sexual purposes. His defense attorney, David Chesnoff, argued that Alexandrovich’s life has been severely impacted by the police operation designed to ensnare him. “Mr. Alexandrovich’s life’s been turned upside down as a result of a police operation that was intended to lure him,” Chesnoff stated.
Despite these assertions, District Judge Tina Talim found sufficient evidence to proceed with the indictment. She denied the defense’s petition for a writ of habeas corpus, citing that prosecutors had met the probable cause standard and presented adequate evidence to the grand jury. “The petitioner continued communications after the decoy explicitly disclosed being 15,” Judge Talim noted, emphasizing the nature of the conversations that included discussions about sexual conduct.
The judge pointed out that Alexandrovich made statements that encouraged the minor to create a ruse to leave her home and traveled to the location agreed upon for a meeting. Chesnoff has indicated plans to appeal the decision, asserting that Alexandrovich was unaware he was communicating with a minor.
According to prosecutors, Alexandrovich utilized messaging platforms WhatsApp and Pure to communicate with an undercover FBI agent, whom he believed to be under 16, to solicit sexual conduct. The dating app Pure requires users to verify they are over 18, which has been a point of contention for the defense. “They needed to upload a government-issued ID and pass age verification before they could communicate with Mr. Alexandrovich, and he was aware of that,” Chesnoff contended.
In a noteworthy development, Chief Deputy District Attorney Jake Villani informed the court that prosecutors had shared the defense’s concerns with the grand jury, an unprecedented move. This included information about Pure’s age verification protocols, though Villani maintained that it was not the state’s responsibility to interpret the defense’s letter for the jurors.
Chesnoff argued that the grand jury did not see crucial evidence that could have established Alexandrovich’s lack of knowledge regarding the identity of the person he was communicating with. The prosecution reported that two decoys were involved: one for the Pure profile and another for a video conversation, both of whom were presented to the grand jury.
Following his arrest, Alexandrovich has been unable to work, leaving his professional future uncertain. Although Chesnoff refrained from specifying whether Alexandrovich was suspended or terminated, he confirmed that Alexandrovich is currently not employed.
Judge Talim has set a trial date for March 2025, rejecting the defense’s plea to dismiss the charges. The legal proceedings surrounding this case continue to draw attention, highlighting the complexities and ramifications of child sex offender operations and the legal challenges they entail.
