Israeli Cyber Directorate employee arrested in US on suspicion of pedophilia

In a large-scale operation targeting suspects in the online sexual exploitation of minors, eight people were arrested, including Tom Artiom Alexandrovich, 38, an employee of the Israel National Cyber Directorate, Las Vegas police said Friday.

All detainees are charged with attempting to entice minors online to commit sexual acts. The directorate confirmed the arrest and said the employee has gone on leave until the findings are clarified.

A senior official at the Cyber Directorate in the Prime Minister’s Office was arrested on suspicion of links to pedophilia. A joint operation by Las Vegas police and the FBI over the past two weeks led to the arrest of eight suspects, including Alexandrovich, 38, from Israel. After questioning, Alexandrovich returned to Israel and was placed on leave from the directorate.

Las Vegas police said the suspects were investigated on suspicion of luring a minor by computer for sexual relations. Those arrested included men aged 23 to 49: David Wonnacott-Yahnke, 40; Jose Alberto Perez-Torres, 35; Aniket Brajeshkumar Sadani, 23; James Ramon Reddick, 23; Ramon Manuel Parra Valenzuela, 29; Neal Harrison Creecy, 46; and John Charles Duncan, 49.

Police said the goal was to identify individuals who pose a danger to minors online and prevent them from contacting children and teenagers.


Police cars and officers stand in the car park of the Trump Tower, after a Tesla Cybertruck burned at the entrance of Trump Tower, in Las Vegas, Nevada, US January 1, 2025. (credit: REUTERS/Ronda Churchill)
Police cars and officers stand in the car park of the Trump Tower, after a Tesla Cybertruck burned at the entrance of Trump Tower, in Las Vegas, Nevada, US January 1, 2025. (credit: REUTERS/Ronda Churchill)
“We would like to remind parents to discuss with their children the dangers of engaging with strangers online. Parents are encouraged to routinely monitor their children’s activity on social media and other online applications to prevent them from becoming victims of a child sex predator,” the Las Vegas police statement said.